Sexual Health Advocacy for Guys - a Text Messaging-based HIV Prevention Program for Guys Who Are Into Guys

Center for Innovative Public Health Research5,000 enrolled

Overview

SHAG is a text messaging-based HIV prevention program designed for cisgender sexual minority boys and men 13-20 years of age across the United States. Investigators will test it against a control group that receives messages about healthy lifestyle. Harnessing the power of technology, young people will be recruited online and largely enrolled digitally. The main outcome of interest is HIV incidence. The impact of the intervention on STI testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will also be examined.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

5,000

Conditions

HIV Infections

Interventions

Sexual health advocacy for guysBEHAVIORAL

5 month HIV prevention program delivered via text messaging

Healthy lifestyle controlBEHAVIORAL

5 month control group program delivered via text messaging

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 13 YearsMax age: 22 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. have been assigned male sex at birth and currently have a cisgender identity; 2. be aged 13-22 years old; 3. have had anal sex in the past 12 months; 4. be English-speaking; 5. exclusively own a cell phone with an unlimited text messaging plan and intend to have the same cell phone number for the next 6 months; 6. have Internet access to complete online surveys; 7. provide informed assent for those under 18, and consent for those 18 years of age and older, including a capacity to consent and a positive self-safety assessment; 8. Willing to take an OraQuick home test to confirm HIV negativity for youth who are 19-20 years of age or 18 years old and graduated high school. If they agree to do the test but do not upload a photo of their result, they will be eligible if they self-report a negative sero-status. Youth 18 years old who have not graduated high school, and 13-17 years of age will be asked to take a home test. If they determine that they cannot do so safely, they will be allowed to self-report their sero-status; and 9. not currently enrolled in another HIV prevention program; or 10. know anyone already enrolled in the RCT. Exclusion Criteria: * Being HIV positive

Locations (2)

Center for Innovative Public Health Research

San Clemente, California, United States

RECRUITING

Center for Innovative Public Health Research

San Clemente, California, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

HIV Incidence

HIV Incidence determined by home testing kit

Time frame: 12-months post-intervention and immediately post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Self-reported HIV incidence

Self-reported HIV Status

Time frame: Post-Intervention, 3-months post, 6-months post, 9-months post, 12-month post

Proportion of Participants Testing for an STI

This outcome will be measured as a cumulative indicator of whether the individual has tested for an STI

Time frame: 12-month post intervention and immediately post-intervention

Proportion of Participants having used PrEP/PEP

This outcome will be measured as a cumulative indicator of whether the individual has used pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV

Time frame: 12-month post-Intervention and immediately post-intervention

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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