African-American patients' preferences for a health center campaign promoting HIV testing: an exploratory study and future directions

J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2014 Nov-Dec;13(6):488-91. doi: 10.1177/2325957414529823. Epub 2014 Apr 16.

Abstract

Objective: In 2006, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended routine HIV testing in health care settings and called for HIV testing campaigns targeting African Americans. In a 2011 national survey, 63% of African Americans wanted information on HIV testing.

Methods: In our study, 176 African Americans were surveyed to determine channels and spokespersons for an HIV testing campaign.

Results: Among 9 media channels, the top 3 ranked as "very likely" to convince them to get HIV tested were television, poster, and brochure. Among 10 spokespersons, the top 3 were doctor, nurse, and "real person like me."

Conclusion: The media are a cost-effective strategy to promote HIV prevention. Posters and brochures are inexpensive and easy to reproduce for clinical settings. Television campaigns may be feasible in clinics with closed-circuit televisions. Research is needed on campaign messages. An effective health center HIV testing campaign may help mitigate the disproportionate toll HIV is having on African Americans.

Keywords: African American; HIV testing; media campaigns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marketing of Health Services*
  • Mass Screening / organization & administration*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Preference / ethnology*
  • Young Adult