A Mixed-Method Assessment of a Pilot Peer Advocate Intervention for Rural Gender and Sexual Minorities.
Cathleen E WillgingAudrey HarknessTania IsraelDavid LeyPatricia S HokansonCatherine DeMariaAaron JoplinVerida SmileyPublished in: Community mental health journal (2017)
Mental health disparities affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in rural America. There are few empirically-based mental health interventions for this population. This exploratory study uses a mixed-method approach to assess implementation issues related to the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and preliminary impacts of a novel peer-based intervention designed to enhance support and treatment engagement among rural LGBTQ people with mental distress and/or addiction issues. Quantitative and qualitative results illuminate intervention strengths and areas for improvement. Strengths centered on enhancing social support, advocacy behaviors, and engagement in treatment. Implementation challenges and recommendations to advance the intervention model are discussed.
Keyphrases
- mental health
- randomized controlled trial
- social support
- south africa
- healthcare
- primary care
- depressive symptoms
- men who have sex with men
- mental illness
- social media
- hiv positive
- study protocol
- quality improvement
- high resolution
- combination therapy
- clinical practice
- clinical trial
- drug induced
- human immunodeficiency virus
- affordable care act
- hiv infected