Healthy Together: A self-management and support intervention for low-income African American men with multiple chronic conditions

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Despite much research in chronic disease self- management, significant gaps in knowledge still exist, especially regarding vulnerable and underserved populations. More specifically, low-income African American men are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions, especially coping with multiple morbidities. Low-income African American men also experience additional burdens to health related to stigma, discrimination, cultural beliefs and practices about health, knowledge and perceptions regarding chronic conditions, and lack of support systems, creating even greater health inequalities. The critical intersections of socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and multiple diagnoses strongly influence effective self-management skills and access to support systems. Moreover, the current COVID-19 situation has added additional complexities, creating bigger gaps in health equity. The specific aims for this administrative supplement to Healthy Together: A Self-Management and Support Intervention for Low-Income African American Men with Multiple Chronic Conditions” include: AIM 1: Incorporate critical issues related to COVID-19 into the existing chronic disease self-management intervention focusing on low-income African American men. AIM 2: Conduct qualitative interviews with 48-60 African American men who are living with chronic conditions, including HIV, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, asthma, arthritis, and mental illness, and participate in the Healthy Together intervention about their experiences with COVID-19. AIM 3: Based on Aim 2, develop and implement a survey regarding the needs and challenges of managing health and illness (both physical and mental) during COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to carefully examine the implications of COVID-19 on this population, specifically focusing on the needs of African American men within a chronic disease self-management program, including both chronic physical and mental conditions, as well as those who care for them. This innovative study engages the research participants through community based participatory research to address the complexities of related to effectively managing their chronic diseases among African American men, particularly in a post-COVID-19 world. This will advance the science needed to achieve the clinically important outcomes such as minimizing disability, optimizing function, and living well among all patients.