# A tailored approach to promoting engagement in public health: Diversity supplement

> **NIH NIH R44** · TRANSCENDENT INTERNATIONAL, LLC · 2020 · $110,636

## Abstract

The parent grant, Strata, aims to develop a turnkey platform that empowers users to collect and utilize psycho-
demographic data to achieve more representative enrollment vis-à-vis target populations, tailor outreach
materials and communication based on actionable insights about both consenters and non-consenters, and
iteratively optimize their successive recruitment waves in real-time. Strata’s research aim is to investigate
whether intentions to improve HIV medication adherence among HIV+ men recruited online into an eHealth
intervention are significantly higher in a video intervention arm compared to a control arm. We will conduct this
study within a study, by recruiting HIV+ men in several waves through an iterative process to better predict
participant engagement and to improve representativeness in enrollment in a scaled-down version of a prior
eHealth intervention. Specifically, in each round of online recruitment, we will collect approximately 200
completed eligible screener surveys. Eligible consenting men will be randomized to either Group 1 (brief
baseline survey only) or Group 2 (brief baseline survey and video clip from the eHealth intervention); both
groups will complete a brief psychographic assessment and brief 30-day follow-up survey that inquires about
HIV medication adherence, other HIV prevention topics (e.g., sexual risk, HIV disclosure, healthcare
engagement), as well as feedback on the study design and reasons for engaging in the study (e.g., incentive,
interest in the topic, online nature of the study, ability to use their mobile phone to engage). We will compare
self-reported HIV medication adherence at baseline and 30-day follow-up among participants in each wave
(between groups) of study recruitment to assess whether harder-to-engage participants have differential health
outcomes. Eligible non-consenting men will receive a brief survey assessing psychographic factors and, to
learn about how these men might become motivated to enroll, open-ended questions about their reasons for
not participating in the study. The purpose of the proposed diversity supplement research and training proposal
is to provide mentorship and training to a new post-doctoral nurse scientist, Portia Thomas, DNSc, who is from
an underrepresented group. The diversity supplement will involve a mix of experiential and didactic activities
related to the parent grant, as well as the development of a pilot study that Dr. Thomas will lead. Most
proposed activities are research-focused, as Dr. Thomas’ long-term goal is to become an independent
research investigator. Regarding the diversity supplement business-related aspects and training related to
Strata development, Dr. Thomas will engage in experiential learning and typology development to identify
additional datasets related to participant psycho-demographics and intervention engagement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10020519
- **Project number:** 3R44NR016908-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** TRANSCENDENT INTERNATIONAL, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** SABINA HIRSHFIELD
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $110,636
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-11-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10020519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10020519, A tailored approach to promoting engagement in public health: Diversity supplement (3R44NR016908-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10020519. Licensed CC0.

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