Clinical trial NCT03922126: Peer Intervention Latino Immigrant MSM
Official title: Development of a Peer Intervention to Increase HIV/STI Testing and PrEP Uptake Among Latino Immigrant Men Who Have Sex With Men
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: HIV Infections
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Lead sponsor: University of Washington
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-04-19
Enrollment: 50
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: SCREENING

Brief summary: This study evaluates a peer intervention with HIV/STI self-testing kits to increase HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake among Latino immigrant men who have sex with men. Half of participants will receive the "Listos" intervention (peer counseling, PrEP information, and HIV/STI testing kits) and half will receive the active control intervention (peer only group with no HIV/STI testing kits).

Detailed description: HIV testing is crucial for early detection of HIV infection; yet, Latino immigrants are at high risk for late HIV diagnosis. Increased screening for HIV and STIs is particularly important for Latino immigrant men who have sex with men (MSM), a group disproportionately at risk for HIV that also encounters barriers to health access due to factors associated with immigrant status. Latino MSM recently experienced a significant increase (25%) in new HIV diagnoses (2008-2015), while diagnoses among MSM overall remained stable. Based on these trends, 1 in 4 Latino MSM will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetimes, highlighting their urgent need for HIV prevention. Notably, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce risk of HIV among high-risk groups; yet, only 3% of Latinos who could benefit from PrEP have received it. As undiagnosed HIV contributes to 40% of new HIV infections, and STIs increase HIV risk, targeted interventions that address Latino immigrant MSM's barriers to HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake are critical for curbing the HIV epidemic.

Studies have shown that peers can influence HIV-related behaviors by enhancing information, motivation, and behavior skills (IMB Model). Peers share characteristics with the target population, which facilitates role modeling and can empower individuals to engage in behaviors. While peer interventions have demonstrated success in shaping behaviors among Latino MSM, their utility for addressing immigrant-specific barriers to HIV/STI testing and PrEP use is less understood.

While the IMB Model and empowerment theory highlight relevant psychological determinants of behavior, competent attention to structural factors (i.e. access) is key for HIV prevention. The availability of HIV/STI self-testing kits presents opportunities to overcome structural barriers to testing. HIV/STI self-testing kits are convenient testing methods as they allow for at-home testing, reducing the need for health care visits. The research combines these approaches (peers and HIV/STI self-testing kits) to address individual and structural barriers to HIV prevention among Latino immigrant MSM.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* male sex (at birth)
* adult aged 18 and older
* immigrant (not born in continental U.S.)
* Latino (identifies as either Latinx or Hispanic
* reports sex with men in past 12 months
* reports not knowing their HIV status or being HIV negative

Exclusion Criteria:

* Does not identify as Latino/Hispanic
* Born in the continental U.S.
* Female sex (at birth)
* Does not report sex with men in the last 12 months
* Reports being HIV positive
* Younger than 18 years old

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of participants who test for HIV/STIs
timeFrame: 1 week
measure: Number of participants who test for HIV/STIs
timeFrame: 6 weeks
measure: Number of participants who test for HIV/STIs
timeFrame: 12 weeks
measure: Number of participants who initiate PrEP
timeFrame: 1 week
measure: Number of participants who initiate PrEP
timeFrame: 6 weeks
measure: Number of participants who initiate PrEP
timeFrame: 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Seattle
country: United States
facility: University of Washington
state: Washington
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Washington
name: Jane J Lee, PhD, LMSW
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: