Wu Elwin contributor Columbia University. Social Work Witte Susan S. contributor Columbia University. Social Work El-Bassel Nabila contributor Columbia University. Social Work Gilbert Louisa contributor Columbia University. Social Work NIMH Multisite HIV/STD Prevention Trial for African American Couples Group author Columbia University. Social Work originator text Articles 2008 manuscript version English Objective: To describe formative and pilot-testing research that generated themes and procedures, curricula, and critical measures for a randomized clinical trial testing a Risk Reduction Intervention for HIV-serodiscordant African American couples (Project Eban). Design: This paper describes the themes that emerged from discussions with African American serodiscordant couples about HIV-related risks from focus groups with 11 couples and pilot study results with 32 couples across four sites. Methods: In Step 1, focus groups examined the need for a Risk Reduction Intervention for HIV-serodiscordant African American couples and confirmed four themes that formed the basis for the intervention curriculum and study format. In Step 2, a pilot study refined the clinical trial procedures for this population and tested critical measures and selected portions of the curriculum for both the treatment and comparison interventions. Results: Based on these findings, stigma and psychological distress, barriers to condom use, insufficient support from community and service organizations, and the lack of skills that emphasize individual and relationship protection were ultimately integrated into the Risk Reduction Intervention. Conclusion: Pilot study findings highlighted the importance of examining gender and ethnicity in HIV- impacted couples along with factors that heightened HIV-related risk behaviors that affect couples’ skills and psychological adjustment. The goal was to ensure that a skill-based, culturally congruent, relationship-centered intervention could be understood and of interest to couples. Future analyses in the main trial will be discussed. Behavioral sciences Public health 49 Supplement 1 S42 S51 2008-09-01 http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181844d57 1525-4135 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:14279 NNC NNC 2012-07-30 15:20:11 -0400 2013-05-03 16:44:00 -0400 8286 eng