Utilization of the Community Popular Opinion Leader (C-POL) Model in Alabama

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Trial

Official title:

Utilization of the Community Popular Opinion Leader (C-POL) Model to Achieve Syphilis Elimination in Alabama

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00260754
• Other study ID #: CDC-NCHSTP-4087
• Secondary ID: U65/CCU422269
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: December 1, 2005
• Last updated: May 30, 2006
• Start date: October 2002
• Est. completion date: July 2005

Study information

• Verified date: December 2005
• Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Community members within the treatment city will report: 1)engaging in fewer sexual risk practices; 2)significantly higher condom use; 3) significantly higher rates of STD care seeking (including STD screening behaviors); 4) fewer having STDs in the past 6 months; 5) significantly higher awareness scores regarding syphilis and other STDs, as compared with those in the comparison city.

Description:

The C-POL in Alabama project is and intervention study which sought to impact the health behaviors of community residents who live in zip codes that have high syphilis morbidity. The study is being implemented in Birmingham and Montgomery with shelter clients.

The intervention model used for this study is the Popular Opinion Leader (POL) model, which is effective at reducing new HIV infections. The intent of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a diffusion model (e.g. POL) at reducing syphilis infections in affected communities.

For the intervention, community members identified as popular opinion leaders were recruited and trained to share accurate information about syphilis transmission, symptoms, testing, treatment and prevention. Prior to intervention implementation and several times after, community members were given a survey and screened for syphilis as well as 2-3 additional STDs. During each assessment, cross-sections of the community members were sampled.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 600
• Est. completion date: July 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clients who utilized two community homeless shelters in the affected community. The affected community was one that had significant syphilis morbidity at the onset of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Risk Behavior
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Community-Popular Opinion Leader Model

• Diffusion of Innovations

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Alabama, Birmingham	Birmingham	Alabama

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	University of Alabama at Birmingham

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Changes in syphilis morbidity in affected community
Secondary	Changes in risk behavior and health care seeking behavior