# Optimization of a new adaptive intervention to increase COVID-19 testing among people at high risk in an urban community

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2021 · $1,239,077

## Abstract

Project Summary
COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted medically or socially vulnerable populations in marginalized urban
communities across the United States (e.g., people with co-morbidities, working in high risk settings, those
refusing or unable to adhere to the State of New Jersey (NJ) prevention guidelines). Social determinants of
health (SDH) such as stigma, incarceration, and poverty are associated with increased exposure to COVID-19
and increased deaths. In the absence of effective, potent, and widely available vaccines and treatments,
prevention – i.e., testing, social distancing, contact tracing, and quarantine -- is essential. Little is known about
acceptability of COVID-19 testing in low-income and racial/ethnic minority neighborhoods, where residents
experience increased barriers to prevention (e.g., inadequate housing, high-risk jobs). However, we have
knowledge of cost-effective, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate interventions that have been
successfully used to engage people in HIV prevention and treatment. These interventions can be adapted and
tested to help address COVID-19. Navigation services (NS) increase HIV testing and adherence to treatment
while addressing structural barriers that deter treatment engagement in high-risk communities. Brief counseling
increases HIV treatment engagement. This study uses a Sequential, Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial
(SMART) with 582 COVID-19 medically/socially vulnerable people. Guided by the COVID-19 Continuum of
Prevention, Care, and Treatment, analysis will explore factors associated with testing and adherence to public
health recommendations. The study aims include: Aim 1: To optimize an adaptive intervention that will
increase rates of testing and adherence to NJ COVID-19 recommendations (testing, social distancing,
quarantine, hospitalization, contact tracing and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination) among high-risk
populations. Aim 2: To identify predictors of testing completion and adherence to NJ recommendations.
This study is innovative in its application of existing evidence-based interventions to address COVID-19 and
the use of SMART following Community Based Participatory Research principles. It has

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10258796
- **Project number:** 3R01MD010629-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Ellen Benoit
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,239,077
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-05-16 → 2023-11-12

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10258796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10258796, Optimization of a new adaptive intervention to increase COVID-19 testing among people at high risk in an urban community (3R01MD010629-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10258796. Licensed CC0.

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