Integrating Supports to Promote PrEP for Black Adolescents Working with Apps

Emory University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: HIV

Treatments: Behavioral: HealthMPowerment App

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06876324

STUDY00007320

7K23MH128128-03 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study applies Social Cognitive Theory to develop behavioral interventions promoting PrEP adherence. It seeks to adapt and test the enhanced HMP app for feasibility and acceptability among Black adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and adult supports.

Full description

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV infections, reducing the risk by over 90%. However, adherence among AYAs remains suboptimal, with only 34% maintaining adherence at 48 weeks. Studies suggest that adult support can improve adherence in pediatric HIV treatment, but this approach has not been systematically evaluated for PrEP use in AYAs. Prior research indicates that Black AYAs and their families are open to incorporating adult support for PrEP adherence.

Given the success of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in promoting sexual health, this study aims to enhance the HealthMPowerment (HMP) app-an existing mHealth platform designed for HIV prevention-to facilitate dyadic communication between Black AYAs and trusted adult support persons.

The study addresses the high rates of HIV among Black adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in Alabama, where AYAs (ages 13-24) account for 31% of new HIV diagnoses, with Black gay and bisexual males, transgender individuals, and heterosexual young women being disproportionately affected. Nearly half of new infections occur in rural areas. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative prioritizes Alabama as a geographic hotspot, emphasizing the need for patient-centered interventions to reduce HIV incidence.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 21 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• African Americans

• Living in the state of Alabama

• Have a PrEP indication (e.g. sex with a partner living with HIV, condomless sex, sex with multiple partners, engagement in transactional sex, or at least one sexually transmitted infection in the past 6 months)

• Support Person:

  • >21 years old
  • self-reported provision of instrumental, informational, or emotional support for a Black AYA 14-21 years old

Exclusion criteria

• HIV positive
• Inability to provide informed consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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10 participants in 1 patient group

AYA group

Experimental group

Description:

All enrolled participants (AYAs and support persons) will receive a demonstration of the app including all of its features. All participants will use the app for 6 months. Each dyad of participants will instructed to use the app to communicate with each other and AYAs will be instructed to use the app to keep track of their PrEP. Data from the medication tracker will be collected at 1-, 3-, and 6-months

Treatment:

Behavioral: HealthMPowerment App