Scaling Up Implementation Strategies to Improve the DIAGNOSE and PREVENT Pillars for Young MSM in Florida
Florida State University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Young Adult Centered HealthForce Training (YACHT) package in 41 Florida Department of Health (FDOH) contracted Counseling, Testing, and Referral (CTR) agencies across six Florida End the Epidemic (EHE) counties. Agencies will be cluster-stratified and randomized to either the YACHT intervention (20 agencies) or a comparison group (21 agencies). The primary effectiveness outcome is the number of HIV tests administered to young men who have sex with men (YMSM), and the primary implementation outcome is providers' fidelity to evidence-based practices (EBPs), including risk reduction counseling and PrEP referrals, as measured through mystery shopper assessments and agency-level data obtained from the Florida Department of Health. The study also includes qualitative interviews with agency representatives to identify barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of youth-specific EBPs within HIV CTR settings.
Description
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) continue to experience a disproportionate burden of HIV infection and remain less likely than other populations to engage in HIV testing, prevention services, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Counseling, Testing, and Referral (CTR) agencies play a critical role in improving the DIAGNOSE and PREVENT pillars of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative by providing culturally and developmentally responsive HIV prevention services. Previous mystery shopper evaluations of CTR agencies identified important gaps in provider delivery of evidence-based practices…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Agency Eligibility 1. Florida Department of Health (FDOH) contracted or direct-service Counseling, Testing, and Referral (CTR) agency. 2. Located within one of the six participating Florida End the Epidemic (EHE) counties. 3. Provides HIV counseling, testing, and referral services. 4 Conducted HIV testing for a minimum of 24 young men who have sex with men (YMSM) during the previous year. Provider/Staff Eligibility 1. Employed by a participating CTR agency. 2. Age 18 years or older. 3. Able to understand and speak English. 4. Willing and able to provide informed consent…
Interventions
- BehavioralWorkforce Development (WD) strategies
Workforce Development (WD) strategies includes agency-tailored problem-solving and development of quality improvement strategies based on MS feedback reports. The effectiveness of workforce development within the provider population will be assessed through qualitative interviews. Agencies will have access to ongoing virtual TMI training and final MS feedback at the end of the study.
- BehavioralQuality Management (QM) and Mystery Shopper (MS) Feedback
During this intervention, mystery shoppers will visit each agency twice per quarter to systematically examine testing clinics' environmental characteristics and their experiences with clinic staff on a variety of domains. The mystery shopper agency assessment outcomes will be measured through agency specific, aggregate data requested from FDOH that addresses the primary effectiveness outcome of the number of HIV tests among YMSM. Agencies will have access to ongoing virtual TMI training and final MS feedback at the end of the study.
Location
- Florida State University, Center for Translational Behavioral ScienceTallahassee, Florida