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Arya M, Kallen MA, Street RL, Viswanath K, Giordano TP. African-American patients' preferences for a health center campaign promoting HIV testing: an exploratory study and future directions. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. 2014 Nov 1; 13(6):488-91.
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.