# Psychosocial Factors and Lupus Disease Progression Among African American Women

> **NIH NIH R01** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $696,209

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 People living with an autoimmune disease, including those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
have been especially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. People with a pre-existing health condition such
as SLE are more susceptible to severe disease. Hence, testing and vaccination among people with SLE, and
others in their household and social network is a paramount public health concern. However, structural barriers
have prevented optimization of testing and vaccination, and African American women in particular have
experienced qualitatively unique challenges to engage in these behaviors. Though only about 7% of the total
U.S. population, African American women represent approximately half of all SLE cases. Existing barriers in
access to health care (e.g., distance, transportation, access to technology) have been magnified during this
unprecedented period. Other psychosocial stressors, including those related to COVID-19 illness and
bereavement, employment, racism, and multiple role responsibility and other family demands, compromise
chronic disease management as well as testing and vaccination behaviors.
 The purpose of this competitive revision application is to identify barriers and facilitators to COVID-19
testing and vaccination among people living with SLE using both qualitative and quantitative methods. We will
evaluate the efficacy of a novel peer-led intervention to enhancing these behaviors among people living with
SLE and others in their household/social network using a randomized controlled trial design. The aims of this
project will be achieved by leveraging an existing patient roster of over 2500 people living with SLE in
Birmingham, Alabama. We also recruit people living with SLE in New Orleans, Louisiana. These two areas are
a high priority given low rates of testing and vaccination in the region. Our intervention is based on individually
tailored outreach and education that addresses concerns about COVID-19 specifically in the context of having
an autoimmune disease; plus providing options for home testing, and a “vaccine concierge” program that
involves identifying the most convenient location, scheduling the appointment, arranging for transportation, and
sending reminders for them and their network members. This approach is supported by research indicating
that hesitancy may be effectively addressed by increasing opportunities and implementing facilitators to get
tested and vaccinated. Lessening barriers mitigates hesitancy and passive refusal; when offered testing and
vaccination, even those who are hesitant may accept. Moreover, there are those who are indeed testing and
vaccine “willing,” but have not yet been because of other constraints (e.g., time, inconvenience, not knowing
where to go); providing them with tools to access testing and vaccination will facilitate engagement. We also
hypothesize that recruiting a testing/vaccination “partner” will enhance these behaviors as suggested by other
beh...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10414260
- **Project number:** 3R01AR065493-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** David Chae
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $696,209
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-17 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10414260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10414260, Psychosocial Factors and Lupus Disease Progression Among African American Women (3R01AR065493-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10414260. Licensed CC0.

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