Kentucky Health Kiosk: Linking Rural Appalachia to HIV, overdose, and infection services
Official title: Kentucky Outreach Service Kiosk (KyOSK): Addressing Health Needs and Improving Service Linkage in Rural Appalachia through Health Kiosks
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11455242 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-led project tests a discreet, 24/7 health kiosk in rural Appalachian Kentucky to help people access HIV, overdose, HCV, and infection prevention services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $79,470 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DA055872-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11455242 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People in rural Appalachia who may be at risk for HIV, overdoses, HCV, or injection-related infections and face barriers to traditional care.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not need or want discreet, 24/7 access to health services or are already well-connected to healthcare.
What this research studies
This project tests a discreet, around-the-clock kiosk that helps people in rural Appalachia connect with HIV and substance-use services, harm-reduction resources, and testing. It builds on prior findings about transportation barriers, limited service hours, and stigma that keep people from engaging with care. The approach aims to reach people where they are, reduce delays in obtaining care, and improve linkage to essential services. The study will evaluate how well the kiosks improve access, uptake of prevention tools, and connections to care in a resource-limited setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could more easily access HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services and related support in a rural, underserved region.
How similar studies have gone: Kiosks have shown potential in increasing discreet access to services, but few have been tested in rural U.S. Appalachian settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, April Marie — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Young, April Marie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.