Persons of color (POC) from underserved communities were at increased risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality due to various social and structural health determinants (SSDH), such as barriers to health care access, and higher rates of underlying chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, stressors associated with experiences of racism and discrimination (both personal and systemic) and the pandemic's impact on their communities further complicated recovery and the management of underlying chronic diseases for minority COVID-19 survivors. These challenges undermined the mental and physical health of both the patients and their care partners, who provided critical support.

The study tested the efficacy of a telehealth-enhanced, RN-Community Health Worker (CHW) delivered dyad intervention, ICINGS FAM (Integrating Community-Based Intervention Under Nurse Guidance with Families), on quality of life (QoL) and health-related outcomes in vulnerable African American (AA) adults with preexisting chronic illnesses and their informal care partners (ICs).

Adapted from the previous WISSDOM CINGs model tested in AA stroke patients, key features of the intervention included:

• Strategies to address racial- and pandemic-related stressors perceived by COVID-19 survivors and ICs.
• Incorporation of the survivor/IC dyad as a unit of analysis to better understand how interpersonal and interdependent relationships impacted health and health-related outcomes for both partners.