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Abstract Background Sex workers, those who trade sex for monetary or nonmonetary items, experience high rates of HIV transmission but have not been adequately included in HIV prevention and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence program development research. Community-empowered (C.E.) approaches have been the most successful at reducing HIV transmission among sex workers. Centering Healthcare (Centering) is a C.E. model proven to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities in other populations, such as pregnant women, people with diabetes, and sickle cell disease. However, no research exists to determine if Centering can be adapted to meet the unique HIV prevention needs of sex workers. Objective We aim to explain the process by which we collaboratively and iteratively adapted Centering to meet the HIV prevention and PrEP retention needs of sex workers. Methods We utilized the Assessment, Decision, Adaptation, Production, Topical Experts, Integration, Training, Testing (ADAPT-ITT) framework, a model for adapting evidence-based interventions. We applied phases one through six of the ADAPT-ITT framework (Assessment, Decision, Adaptation, Production, Topical Experts, Integration) to the design to address the distinct HIV prevention needs of sex workers in Chicago. Study outcomes corresponded to each phase of the ADAPT-ITT framework. Data used for adaptation emerged from collaborative stakeholder meetings, individual interviews (n = 36) and focus groups (n = 8) with current and former sex workers, and individual interviews with care providers (n = 8). In collaboration with our community advisory board, we used a collaborative and iterative analytical process to co-produce a culturally adapted 3-session facilitator's guide for the Centering Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (C-PrEP +) group healthcare model. Results The ADAPT-ITT framework offered structure and facilitated this community-empowered innovative adaptation of Centering Healthcare. This process culminated with a facilitator's guide and associated materials ready for pilot testing. Conclusions In direct alignment with community empowerment, we followed the ADAPT-ITT framework, phases 1–6, to iteratively adapt Centering Healthcare to suit the stated HIV Prevention and PrEP care needs of sex workers in Chicago. The study represents the first time Centering has been adapted to suit the HIV prevention and PrEP care needs of sex workers. Addressing a gap in HIV prevention care for sex workers, Centering PrEP harnesses the power of community as it is an iteratively adapted model that can be piloted and replicated regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Introduction Chicago’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Team (CRRT) is a decentralized, interprofessional group of nurses, residents, students, and faculty who provide free COVID-19 testing for those living or working in congregate settings (i.e., shelters, long term care facilities, prisons and encampments) due to their increased risk. Individuals within these vulnerable populations regularly experience stigma, a lack of privacy, and healthcare discrimination as they are often in low-income and underserved communities. The CRRT tests in settings that are necessarily large (cafeterias, meeting areas, gymnasiums, recreation rooms), and provide little physical privacy. Regardless of patient circumstances, respecting patient dignity is a professional standard of care, and patient privacy is consistent with that standard. Methods Guided by trauma-informed care techniques, emancipatory nursing practice, and cultural safety methodology, student members of the CRRT initiated a project focused on expanding physical privacy protection for those undergoing COVID-19 testing. Conclusion Though the introduction of a portable privacy screen started as an initiative to safeguard the dignity for underserved populations, this call to action implores current and future health care providers to prioritize the ethical treatment of those most vulnerable by advocating for patient dignity and privacy.

Introduction Partnerships between schools of nursing and grade schools providing health education to youth are shown to be advantageous. Using Community Based Service Learning for nursing students at a middle school in Chicago, IL, we were able to improve health education for adolescents in an underserved area. Objective This project aimed to improve and standardize existing health education efforts for sixth graders (n = 30) at a middle school by developing an evidence-based health education curriculum with nursing students. Methods This was a descriptive study with a pretest and posttest evaluation addressing the physical, emotional, and sexual health knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of participating sixth graders. Results Findings suggest service-learning partnerships may benefit middle schoolers and nursing students. Conclusion Implementing a culturally relevant health curriculum using a service-learning framework increased sexual, physical, and emotional health knowledge in Latinx sixth graders and enhanced nursing student learning in a way not possible through classroom and clinical practicum experiences alone.

Chronic absenteeism is a widespread and troubling phenomenon affecting high school students nationwide. Existing research identifies an inverse link between student health and chronic absenteeism. Illness is a top cause of student absence, suggesting that school-based health services may play an important role in mitigating chronic absenteeism. Since 2014, a school-based health program which provides school nurses has been introduced in certain public high schools in Hawai'i. Using a merged panel of school-level directory, enrollment, chronic absenteeism, graduation rate, and program participation data from the 2010-11 to 2018-19 academic years, we estimate how the program impacted high school chronic absenteeism. Using a synthetic control method approach, we find that school-based health programs reduced overall chronic absenteeism two years and three years following program adoption. Sensitivity analyses (i.e., including leave one out exercises and alternative combinations of predictor variables) highlight the robustness of these findings. These results demonstrate the potential for school-based health services to reduce chronic absenteeism among high school students.