Sex and Female Empowerment (SAFE)

October 13, 2017 updated by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Improving Women's Sexual Health While in Drug Addiction Treatment

This study will develop and initially evaluate Sex and Female Empowerment (SAFE), an intervention designed to increase acceptance of and adherence to contraceptive practices among opioid-agonist-maintained women of childbearing age. The intervention will be delivered in one of two formats: a face-to-face brief intervention approach or a novel computer-adaptive platform. To the extent that either version of SAFE is found to be efficacious compared with usual care, it has the potential to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and consequently decrease the need for and the costs of child protective services.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
90

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27514
        • UNC Horizons

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion criteria will be:

  1. ages 18-40 years old for women;
  2. able to provide informed consent;
  3. currently enrolled in a opioid-agonist-maintenance program;
  4. currently not pregnant (urine testing confirmation);
  5. report heterosexual orientation;
  6. no tubal ligation or other sterilization;
  7. no plans to become pregnant in the next 6 months; and
  8. provides verifiable locator information.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: computer-adaptive SAFE
Computer-adaptive SAFE will consist of 4 60-minute sessions. Sessions 1 and 2 will explore participants' reasons to become and rewards for becoming pregnant/having children or avoiding it, introduce reproductive biology in the context of different contraceptive methods and explore the participant's ambivalence toward using different contraceptive methods. Session 3 will provide in-depth coverage of contraceptive methods and the need for use of a barrier method. Session 4 will focus on effective strategies to communicate with a sexual partner. Computer-adaptive SAFE will use an audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) format.
Behavioral: Computer-adaptive SAFE
Experimental: Face-to-face SAFE
Face-to-face SAFE will consist of 4 60-minute sessions using motivational interviewing techniques. Each session will be led by an experienced counselor. Sessions 1 and 2 will explore participants' reasons to become and rewards for becoming pregnant/having children or avoiding it, introduce reproductive biology in the context of different contraceptive methods and explore the participant's ambivalence toward using different contraceptive methods. Session 3 will provide in-depth coverage of contraceptive methods and the need for use of a barrier method, and relevant skills regarding how to use and negotiate use of contraceptive methods. Session 4 will focus on effective strategies to communicate with a sexual partner.
Behavioral: Face-to-face SAFE
Active Comparator: Usual Care
Usual care comprises four 60-minute provider-led individual care sessions about HIV, STIs, and their risks, as well as prevention methods. Contraceptive methods are discussed within this context. There will be no demand on participants to attend these sessions. Participants will receive written take-home materials to review on their own and/or with their sex partners.
Behavioral: Usual Care

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intervention Satisfaction
Time Frame: The earlier of the completion of the 4 interventions sessions or 6 weeks.
Summary scale score: Derived from responses to a four-item 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = "not at all help" to 5 = "extremely helpful") of satisfaction with the intervention, administered at the end of each of the four intervention sessions.
The earlier of the completion of the 4 interventions sessions or 6 weeks.
Contraceptive Consultation Appointment
Time Frame: The earlier of the completion of the 4 intervention sessions or 6 weeks.
Binary variable: Did or did not the participant schedule and attend an appointment with a obstetrical provider at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Obstetrical/Gynecological Services, determined from medical records.
The earlier of the completion of the 4 intervention sessions or 6 weeks.
Intervention Completion
Time Frame: The earlier of the completion of the 4 interventions sessions or 6 weeks.
Binary variable: Completes or fails to complete all four intervention sessions in a 6-week period, determined from study records.
The earlier of the completion of the 4 interventions sessions or 6 weeks.
Contraceptive Method Effectiveness
Time Frame: The earlier of the completion of the 4 intervention sessions or 6 weeks.
Percentage: The typical use effectiveness level of the contraceptive method in use at the end of the intervention based on responses to the National Survey of Family Growth contraceptive methods items. If the participant does not make an appointment and choose a contraceptive method, the typical-use effectiveness level of the contraceptive method indicated at intake in response to the Survey of Family Growth contraceptive methods items will be used. Typical effectiveness rating of contraceptive methods is a percentage between 15% and 99.85%, and will be based on Hatcher, R.A., Contraceptive technology, which reports success and failure rates for contraceptive methods in current use.
The earlier of the completion of the 4 intervention sessions or 6 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Knowledge of Reproduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Summary scale score: Derived from eight true-false questions about participants' understanding of the information that was presented in the four intervention sessions about anatomy, menstruation, fertility, and conception, administered at each assessment time point.
Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Knowledge of Contraceptive Methods
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-, 3-, 6-months post-baseline
Summary scale score: Derived from twenty true-false questions about participants' understanding of the information presented in the four intervention sessions about contraceptive methods, how hormonal contraceptives work, how to correctly use them; hormonal contraceptive side effects and ways to deal with them; which methods are effective against STIs/HIV; correct condom use, administered at each assessment time point.
Baseline, 1-, 3-, 6-months post-baseline
Contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Summary scale score: Derived from the Contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale, an eighteen-item 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = "not at all true of me" and 5 = "completely true of me") designed to measure a female respondent's motivational barriers to effective contraceptive use, including obtaining contraceptives, using contraceptives with a partner, talking to a partner about contraceptive use, using contraceptives despite partner approval, and preventing unprotected sexual intercourse, administered at each assessment time point.
Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Effective Contraceptive Behavior
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Ordered polytomous variable: Participant's self-report of their contraceptive behavior obtained at each assessment time point will be classified into 1 of 4 patterns: (1) "uninterrupted effective user" (e.g., implant, injectable, an IUD); (2) "uninterrupted other user" (use of effective methods on an interrupted basis); (3) "sporadic user" (use of some method when at risk for pregnancy); or (4) "nonuser", where "uninterrupted" in (1) means that an effective method was used for the entire time period under assessment; otherwise, categorized as (2).
Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Frequency of Use of Barrier Protection in past 30 days
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Count variable: Self-reported number of times in the past 30 days a participant used a barrier method for protection from HIV/STIs when engaging in sexual activities, collected at each assessment time point.
Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Number of Times Engaged in Unprotected Sex in past 30 days
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline
Count variable: Self-reported number of times in the past 30 days a participant engaged in unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex, collected at each assessment time point.
Baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Hendrée E Jones, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 21, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 21, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 23, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 17, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 13, 2017

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 13-3075
  • R34DA033442 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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