# Sexual and Gender Minority Supplement

> **NIH NIH R15** · KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $99,876

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Despite much research in chronic disease self-management,
significant gaps in knowledge still exist, especially regarding vulnerable and underserved
populations. More specifically, African American gay men are disproportionately affected by
chronic conditions, especially coping with multiple morbidities. Low-income African American
gay men also experience additional burdens to health related to stigma, discrimination, cultural
beliefs and practices about health, knowledge and perceptions regarding chronic conditions,
and lack of support systems, creating even greater health inequalities. The critical intersections
of socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and multiple diagnoses strongly
influence effective self-management skills and access to support systems. The specific aims for
this sexual and gender minority supplement to Healthy Together: A Self-Management and
Support Intervention for Low-Income African American Men with Multiple Chronic Conditions”
include: AIM 1: Build a community of practice focusing specifically focusing on African
American gay men, particularly low-income. AIM 2: Conduct qualitative interviews with 25-30
African American gay men who are living with chronic conditions, including HIV, diabetes,
hypertension, hyper-cholesterolemia, asthma, arthritis, and mental illness as well as 8-12 health
care providers serving this population. AIM 3: Based on Aim 2, develop and implement a
survey regarding the needs and challenges of managing chronic conditions as an African
American gay man. The purpose of this study is to carefully examine the development and
effectiveness of specifically focusing on the needs of gender and sexual minorities within a
chronic disease self-management program, including both chronic physical and mental
conditions, as well as those who care for them. This innovative study engages the research
participants through community based participatory research to address the complexities of
related to effectively managing their chronic diseases among African American gay men. This
will advance the science needed to achieve the clinically important outcomes such as
minimizing disability, optimizing function, and living well among all patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10093376
- **Project number:** 3R15AG059210-01A1S2
- **Recipient organization:** KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Evelina Sterling
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $99,876
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10093376

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10093376, Sexual and Gender Minority Supplement (3R15AG059210-01A1S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10093376. Licensed CC0.

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