e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma

Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Treatments

Behavioral: e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT05664802

3U54MD012388-05S2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

NAU IRB Protocol ID: 1827963-2

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to increase HIV and syphilis testing and linkage to care, increase condom use, and promote PrEP uptake among sexual minority men (SMM) and American Indian (AI) men in rural Oklahoma, a state that is an Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) priority state. The proposed supplement aims to: refine our preliminary intervention strategy in partnership with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) and rural peer mentors, and to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the e-HERO intervention.

Full description

In the U.S., incidence rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are disproportionately high among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men-referred to herein as sexual minority men (SMM)-compared to men who have sex with women only. Similarly, rates of HIV infection have increased among American Indian (AI) men. This is a two-group, active-control RCT of the online e-HERO intervention. Participants (100 SMM; 100 AI men) will be randomized into two groups in equal proportions. This study evaluates two versions of an online sexual health intervention. The e-HERO intervention includes 10 modules, totaling approximately 2.5 hours of content. Across these modules, e-HERO uses diverse delivery methods (e.g., videos, interactive games) to address HIV and STI knowledge, behavioral skills, HIV and STI testing intention, and instill self-efficacy to primary and secondary prevention behaviors. Those in the intervention condition will also engage in three virtual group discussion sessions with peer mentors. The control condition contains the same number of modules as e-HERO. The control condition contains the same number of modules as e-HERO. The control arm reflects HIV and STI information that is currently available on many websites, with the aim to understand how the cultural tailoring of e-HERO modules improves upon information that is readily available online.

Enrollment

200 estimated patients

Sex

Male

Ages

17 to 29 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Provide signed and dated informed consent form
Be willing and able to follow study procedures and instructions and be available for the duration of the study
Be between 17 and 29 years of age
Be American Indian or a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men. American Indian status is self-identified-no tribal enrollment verification will be required.
Be a resident of Oklahoma, in a rural identified county

Exclusion criteria

Anything that would place the individual at increased risk or preclude the individual's full compliance with, or completion of, the study.
HIV diagnosis

Trial design

Primary purpose

Prevention

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

200 participants in 2 patient groups

e-HERO 2.0

Experimental group

Description:

The e-HERO intervention includes 10 modules, totaling approximately 2.5 hours of content. Across these modules, e-HERO uses diverse delivery methods to address HIV and STI knowledge, behavioral skills, HIV and STI testing intention, and instill self-efficacy to primary and secondary prevention behaviors. Those in the intervention condition will also engage in three virtual group discussion sessions with peer mentors.

Treatment:

Behavioral: e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma

e-HERO 1.0

Active Comparator group

Description:

e-HERO 1.0 contains the same number of modules as e-HERO. The control arm reflects HIV and STI information that is currently publicly available.

Treatment:

Behavioral: e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma