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BMC Emergency Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Study protocol

Facilitating HIV/AIDS and HIV testing literacy for emergency department patients: a randomized, controlled, trial

Authors: Roland C. Merchant, Tao Liu, Melissa A. Clark, Michael P. Carey

Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Although this has not been fully studied, videos and pictorial brochures might be equivalent methods of delivering HIV/AIDS and HIV testing information to emergency departments (ED) patients. It also is not known how well or for how long such knowledge is retained, if this information should be tailored according to patient health literacy, and if retention of this knowledge impacts future HIV testing behavior.

Methods

We will conduct a multi-site, randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial among 600 English- and 600 Spanish-speaking 18–64-year-old ED patients to investigate these questions. We will stratify our sample within language (English vs. Spanish) by health literacy level (lower vs. higher) and randomly assign patients to receive HIV/AIDS and HIV testing information by video or pictorial brochure. All patients will be tested for HIV in the ED. At 12-months post-enrollment, we will invite participants to be tested again for HIV. As primary aims, we will compare the efficacy of pictorial brochures and videos in improving short-term (in ED) HIV/AIDS and HIV testing knowledge and retaining this knowledge over 12 months. We will determine if and how short-term improvement and longer-term retention of knowledge interacts with information delivery mode (pictorial brochure or video), patient health literacy level (lower or higher), and language (English or Spanish). As secondary aims, using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model as a heuristic framework, we will measure constructs from the IMB model relevant to our study, and assess their impact on HIV re-testing behavior; we will also examine the moderating influences of information delivery mode, language, and health literacy level. In addition, we will explore simplified screening strategies to identify ED patients with lower health literacy as ways to implement a tailored approach to HIV/AIDS and HIV testing information delivery in EDs.

Discussion

Study findings will guide ED-based delivery of HIV/AIDS and HIV testing information; that is, whether delivery modes (video or pictorial brochure) should be selected for patients by language and/or health literacy level. The results also will inform EDs when, how, and for whom information needs to be provided for those undergoing testing again for HIV within a one-year period.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02284451. Posted November 6, 2014.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Facilitating HIV/AIDS and HIV testing literacy for emergency department patients: a randomized, controlled, trial
Authors: Roland C. Merchant
Tao Liu
Melissa A. Clark
Michael P. Carey
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-227X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-018-0172-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Facilitating HIV/AIDS and HIV testing literacy for emergency department patients: a randomized, controlled, trial

Abstract

Background

Methods

Discussion

Trial registration

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Discussion

Trial registration

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