P585 Inuit community readiness: adapting the community readiness model with Inuit communities for HIV prevention

Background With the highest rates of STIs in Canada, high mobility between North and South and a lack of adequate screening for STBBIs, it is possible that Inuit communities could face an HIV epidemic. If no action is taken to scale up prevention efforts, an epidemic in Inuit communities in the North could soon be a reality. Therefore, gauging an Inuit community’s level of readiness to develop and participate in community-based HIV prevention, education, screening, and ensuring approaches are culturally relevant is imperative. Methods This current research project builds directly on priorities outlined by Inuit stakeholders, and is facilitated through strong partnerships between the three communities (Kugluktuk, Arviat, and Clyde River Nunavut), Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, and Dalhousie University. The goal of this research project is to engage Inuit communities and organizations in adapting, piloting and using the Community Readiness Model (CRM) to improve readiness to engage in HIV-modalities at the community level. This presentation will outline the community engagement and integrated knowledge translation processes, progress to date, and next steps for this community-based research project. Results This project has adopted Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) as a framework, which supports personal wellness through a collective cultural sense of health. Consultations with the project advisory committee (Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network (CIHAN)), Community Health Representatives from three respective Nunavut communities and the research team were held November 2015. We are working collaboratively to: (1) adapt the CRM; (2) ensure it is Inuit-specific; (3) pilot the adapted tool; and (4) determine the applicability of this tool. Representatives from Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and Inuvialuit will also be mentored on how to use the adapted CRM. Conclusion By engaging knowledge users and communities, this project will address HIV prevention in Inuit communities by identifying factors that impact readiness for HIV interventions. Disclosure No significant relationships.