CHDR FUNDED PILOT STUDIES

Spirituality, Addictions, and HIV Risk Behaviors

The proposed pilot study for the Baltimore arm of the study is focused on the role of spirituality and addictions, specifically whether spirituality influences recovery in intravenous drug users (IVDU’s) and whether it influences other HIV high risk behaviors. The North Carolina arm of the study is focused on the role of spirituality and alcohol problems. The overall aim of the quantitative pilot project in the Baltimore arm of the study is to examine the relationship between spirituality and high risk injection drug use behaviors and high risk sexual behaviors among a cohort of HIV negative injection drug users in a large urban setting. The first specific aim focuses on spirituality and injection drug use behaviors. The second aim examines the relationship of spirituality and injection risk behaviors and sexual risk behaviors while the third aim is focused on examining the role of spirituality as a protective factor in predicting drug and alcohol use problems independent of gender.

Joan Kub, PhD, RN, CS (JHUSON)
Linda McIntosh, PhD, RN (NCA&T SON)