A Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence Intervention (LifeSteps) for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Katie B Biello, Brown University; Christina Psaros, Massachusetts General Hospital; Douglas S Krakower, Harvard Medical School; Elliot Marrow, Fenway Health; Steven A Safren, University of Miami; Matthew J Mimiaga, Brown University; Lisa Hightow-Weidman, University of North Carolina; Patrick S Sullivan, Emory University; Kenneth H Mayer, Fenway Health
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-01-29
• Publisher: JMIR Publications
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: ©Katie B Biello, Christina Psaros, Douglas S Krakower, Elliot Marrow, Steven A Safren, Matthew J Mimiaga, Lisa Hightow-Weidman, Patrick Sullivan, Kenneth H Mayer. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 29.01.2019.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/10661
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JMIR Research Protocols
• ISSN: 1929-0748
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: e10661
• End Page: e10661
• Keywords: HIV prevention; adolescents; adherence; antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis; men who have sex with men
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Psychology, Behavioral; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: New HIV infections occur at a disproportionately high rate among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). It is, therefore, essential that comprehensive HIV prevention strategies, specifically tailored to their needs and perceptions, are developed, tested, and disseminated. Antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in decreasing HIV transmission among men who have sex with men; however, adherence is critical to its efficacy. In open-label studies among YMSM, adherence was suboptimal. Hence, behavioral approaches that address the unique challenges to YMSM PrEP adherence are needed. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the protocol for intervention refinement and a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a PrEP adherence intervention, LifeSteps for pre-exposure prophylaxis for young men who have sex with men (LSPY). METHODS: This study includes the following 2 phases: formative qualitative interviews with approximately 20 YMSM and 10 key informants for intervention adaptation and refinement and a pilot RCT of up to 50 YMSM to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the LSPY, compared with the PrEP standard of care, to improve PrEP adherence. Participants will be recruited at 3 iTech subject recruitment venues in the United States. RESULTS: Phase 1 is expected to begin in June 2018, and enrollment of phase 2 is anticipated to begin in early 2019. CONCLUSIONS: Few rigorously developed and tested interventions have been designed to increase PrEP adherence among YMSM in community settings, despite this population's high HIV incidence. The long-term goal of this intervention is to develop scalable protocols to optimize at-risk YMSM's PrEP uptake and adherence to decrease the HIV incidence. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/10661.