Health Communication Film Implementation Strategy COVID-19-era: The Turning T.I.D.E. in HIV Multimedia Research

Among public health and social behavioral scientists there is an emergent interest in using film-based methodologies to promote health and wellness. During the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this research method, as well as other forms of research, were thwarted. This article reports on our experience of implementing an online health communication film intervention under a research design initially intended for in-person communal viewing. We investigated if the film-based intervention could enhance the uptake of therapeutic modalities first learned through a brief five-week session for Black and Latine adults living with HIV. To address changes in research methods attributed to COVID-19, the T.I.D.E. implementation method includes four critical considerations: 1) T-Tenacious approach, increased level of persistence leveraging social and clinical supports, 2) I- Immediate Needs, connecting participants to needed community resources, 3) D- Dissemination Plan revamp and harness technology to share information, and 4) E- Environmental Awareness privacy protocol to strengthen trust by participants.