Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) remain underrepresented in research occupations. This report discusses a collaboration to train undergraduate BIPOC students in clinical research between ...a public health institute, two medical schools, and a historically Black College or University (HBCU). This nine-month program trained BIPOC undergraduates in research methodology, psychology, and addiction science, and immersed trainees in real-world research. The program included didactic seminars, experiential activities, and a mentored research project culminating in a poster and oral presentation.
Key learnings, program satisfaction survey results, and preliminary outcomes from the first three program cohorts (N = 6 students) are presented. This program addressed several barriers hypothesized to contribute to the limited number of BIPOC students pursuing research careers, including mentorship from BIPOC faculty and financial concerns.
Students reported moderate to high satisfaction with the program and endorsed gaining new research skills. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
The expansion of the BIPOC health and research workforce is an urgent priority given the importance of BIPOC professionals to the health of our nation.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04650386.
The Centers for AIDS Research Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative (CDEIPI) aims to establish programs to develop pathways for successful careers in HIV science among scholars from ...underrepresented racial and ethnic populations. This article describes cross-site evaluation outcomes during the first 18 months (July 2021-December 2022) across 15 programs.
The aims of the evaluation were to characterize participants, describe feasibility, challenges, and successes of the programs and provide a basis for the generalizability of best practices to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States. Two primary data collection methods were used: a quarterly programmatic monitoring process and a centrally managed, individual-level, participant quantitative and qualitative survey.
During the first year of evaluation data collection, 1085 racially and ethnically diverse scholars ranging from the high school to postdoctoral levels applied for CDEIPI programs throughout the United States. Of these, 257 (23.7%) were selected to participate based on program capacity and applicant qualifications. Participants were trained by 149 mentors, teachers, and staff. Of the N = 95 participants responding to the individual-level survey, 95.7% agreed or strongly agreed with statements of satisfaction with the program, 96.8% planned to pursue further education, and 73.7% attributed increased interest in a variety of HIV science topics to the program. Qualitative findings suggest strong associations between mentorship, exposure to scientific content, and positive outcomes.
These data provide evidence to support the feasibility and impact of novel DEI programs in HIV research to engage and encourage racially and ethnically diverse scholars to pursue careers in HIV science.
Brief interventions such as Screening, a single session of Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) have shown mixed effectiveness in primary care. However, there are indications that ...multi-session brief interventions may demonstrate more consistently positive outcomes, and perhaps a more intensive approach would be of benefit in addressing substance use in primary care. This study compared the effectiveness of SBIRT with a single BI session (BI/RT) to a multi-session brief-treatment intervention (BI/RT+) in primary care. We also developed easy-to-use, evidence-based materials to assist clinicians in delivering these interventions.
This study was conducted in three Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs). A total of 10,935 patients were screened, and 600 individuals were recruited. The sample was primarily Black/African American (82 %) with a mean age of 40. Patients who attended a healthcare appointment were screened for substance use via the AUDIT and DAST. Patients were eligible for the study if they scored 8 or higher on the AUDIT, were using only marijuana and scored 2 or higher on the DAST, or were using other illicit drugs and scored 1 or higher on the DAST. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one-session BI/RT, or two to six sessions of brief intervention that incorporated elements of motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (BI/RT+). Both interventions were delivered by behavioral health consultants at the FQHCs. Participants completed follow-up assessments every 3 months for 1 year. Primary outcome variables included substance use treatment sessions attended and days of substance use. Secondary outcomes included measures of health, employment, legal, and psychiatric functioning and HIV risk behaviors. Additionally, we will conduct an economic evaluation examining cost-effectiveness and will analyze outcomes from a process evaluation examining patient and provider experiences.
The ability of brief interventions to impact substance use has great potential, but research findings have been mixed. By conducting a large-scale randomized controlled trial in real-world health centers, this study will answer important questions about the effectiveness of expanded BIs for patients who screen positive for risky substance use in primary care. Trial registration NCT01751672.
Demographic diversity is not represented in the HIV/AIDS workforce. Engagement of underrepresented trainees as early as high school may address this disparity.
We established the Penn Center for AIDS ...Research (CFAR) Scholars Program, a mentored research experience for underrepresented minority (URM) trainees spanning educational stages from high school to medical school. The program provides participants with tailored educational programming, professional skill building, and mentored research experiences. We conducted qualitative interviews with scholar, mentor, and leadership groups to evaluate the program's impact.
Eleven participants were selected to partake in 1 of 5 existing mentored research programs as CFAR scholars. Scholars attended an 8-week HIV Seminar Series that covered concepts in the basic, clinical, behavioral, and community-based HIV/AIDS research. Program evaluation revealed that scholars' knowledge of HIV pathophysiology and community impact increased because of these seminars. In addition, they developed tangible skills in literature review, bench techniques, qualitative assessment, data analysis, and professional network building. Scholars reported improved academic self-efficacy and achieved greater career goal clarity. Areas for improvement included clarification of mentor-mentee roles, expectations for longitudinal mentorship, and long-term engagement between scholars. Financial stressors, lack of social capital, and structural racism were identified as barriers to success for URM trainees.
The Penn CFAR Scholars Program is a novel mentored research program that successfully engaged URM trainees from early educational stages. Barriers and facilitators to sustained efforts of diversifying the HIV/AIDS workforce were identified and will inform future program planning.
The identification of sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with work, and tedium (or burnout) for employees of community mental health centers was the intent of this investigation. This intent ...developed from the belief that many organizations function with regard to Herzberg's dual continuum theory, yet still finding themselves unable to respond to employee's needs. Consequently, it was hypothesized that the dual continuum theory posited by Herzberg would be inadequate for explaining work satisfaction. Furthermore, it was posited that an investigation that incorporates a less obtrusive method than Herzberg's may prove valuable to educators and psychologists interested in the simultaneous study of work roles and personality variables. Hence, the Job Impression Survey (JIS) was designed to have employees identify pleasant/unpleasant events occurring for a one week period, as well as state their degree of satisfaction with six work context variables, agreement with the Protestant work ethic, and extent of tedium. Employees of 12 community mental health centers in Baltimore City and County were distributed the instrument on a voluntary basis. Analysis of the 174 protocols returned found pleasant/unpleasant events and agents, satisfaction/dissatisfaction, Protestant work ethic, and tedium related in a meaningful manner. This relationship was mediated by work roles, individual attributes, and institutional affiliations. Herzberg's theory proved insufficient for explaining sources of work satisfaction. Categories of cited events led to potential areas for intervention into, or prevention of, unhealthy work environments. Implications for administrators, evaluators, staff, and human relations specialists were given. A need for further investigation into both work satisfaction of mental health professionals and the utility of job events as a means of evaluating work settings was given.
The synthesis and structure–activity relationship (SAR) of a novel series of aryl piperazine napthyridinone D₂ partial agonists is described. Our goal was to optimize the affinities for the D₂, ...5-HT₂A and 5-HT₁A receptors, such that the D₂/5-HT₂A ratio was greater than 5 to ensure maximal occupancy of these receptors when the D₂ occupancy reached efficacious levels. This strategy led to identification of PF-00217830 (2) with robust inhibition of sLMA (MED=0.3mg/kg) and DOI-induced head twitches in rats (31% and 78% at 0.3 and 1mg/kg) with no catalepsy observed at the highest dose tested (10mg/kg).
A series of 6-alkoxyisoindolin-1-ones with a magic shotgun pharmacological profile are presented as potential antipsychotics. The in vitro pharmacological profile includes D(2) partial agonism ...(30-55%), 5-HT(1A) partial agonism (60-90%), and 5-HT(2A) antagonism. Selected compounds in this series displayed good in vivo activity and potency.
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