Confidential Social Network Referrals for HIV Testing (CONSORT)

University of South Carolina

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: HIV

Treatments: Behavioral: CONSORT referrals; Behavioral: Card referrals

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05967208

Pro00120208

Details and patient eligibility

About

Despite worldwide efforts to promote HIV testing, rates of testing remain low. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acceptability, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of confidential SMS-based social network referrals for HIV testing as a means of reaching high-risk individuals and prompting them to test for HIV. To accomplish this purpose, the study has 5 specific aims:

Aim 1 will conduct qualitative, formative work to identify desirable provider- and client-side characteristics of a confidential SMS-based HIV testing referral system.

Aim 2 will adapt an existing mHealth system (mParis) to add CONSORT functionality.

Aim 3 will pilot-test the CONSORT system to collect preliminary data on the system's acceptability, performance, and potential efficacy.

Aim 4 will evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of CONSORT in a randomized controlled trial.

Aim 5 will evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of CONSORT vs. other referral options.

If CONSORT is shown to be acceptable, effective, and cost-effective, such mobile-phone supported, chain-referral methods could greatly improve the cost-effectiveness of HIV testing efforts.

Full description

No additional detail available

Enrollment: 600 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• at least 18 years old
• live, work, or regularly receive care in Moshi, Tanzania
• literate

Exclusion criteria

• under age 18 years
• does not live, work, or regularly receive care in Moshi, Tanzania
• illiterate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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600 participants in 2 patient groups

CONSORT referrals + Card referrals

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention arm

Treatment:

Behavioral: CONSORT referrals

Behavioral: Card referrals

Card referrals alone

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control arm

Treatment:

Behavioral: Card referrals