Prevention and Risk: Treatment With a New Emphasis on Relationships (PARTNER)

October 16, 2025 updated by: Tyrel Starks, Hunter College of City University of New York

Intervention to Reduce Drug Use and HIV Incidence Among High PrEP Priority Partnered YMSM

This research examines the efficacy of an individually-delivered intervention tailored for YMSM in relationships. The intervention - termed PARTNER - utilizes a brief (4 session) motivational interviewing format to target Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake/adherence, HIV transmission risk behavior, and associated drug use.

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.

Detailed Description

This study aims to evaluate a individual-focused intervention with an integrated focus on drug use and HIV prevention, including uptake of and adherence to PrEP. The investigators will recruit a sample of 240 partnered individuals.

Recruitment occurs using a mix of in-person and Internet recruitment. Outreach workers will visit bars and events in the New York City area to recruit participants. Also,information on our project will be posted on social media sites (e.g.,Facebook, Grindr, Scruff). Interested individuals will complete a brief online screener to assess eligibility. A telephone screener will be conducted with participants who are preliminarily eligible based upon online screener responses. Participants who are eligible based upon telephone screening responses will be sent an email. The email contains a link for them to access the baseline online survey. It provides information which introduces the study to the recruited partner and a link to the baseline survey online. If participants indicate intimate partner violence (IPV) on the online baseline survey, participants will be rendered ineligible. Only the participant that indicated experiencing IPV will be given a list of local referrals to access IPV-related services.

An in-person baseline assessment appointment will be scheduled after both participants have completed the online survey.

The in-person baseline assessment appointment consists of four components; written consent, a computer-assisted self interview (CASI), a timeline follow back interview, and biological testing.

Written consent is obtained prior to the start of any in-person baseline activity. Participants additionally complete a computer-assisted self interview (CASI). After this, participants will independently complete a TFLB. TLFB is a semi-structured interview to collect retrospective event-level data on drug use, sexual behavior and PrEP adherence (for those on PrEP) in the past 30 days.

The final part of the in-person baseline assessment consists of biological testing for STI (gonorrhea & chlamydia via urinalysis and rectal swabs), drug testing via 5-panel fingernail drug assay via finger or toe nail clippings. Drugs tested are 5 major drugs: Amphetamines, Cannabinoids, Cocaine, Opiates, and Phencyclidine (PCP). HIV testing will consist of a finder prick test using the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo test. Participants indicating current PrEP use will receive an HIV test via blood draw for a laboratory immunoassay. Participants indicating current PrEP give an additional blood sample and fingernail sample to examine PrEP adherence using a dried blood spot for western blot analysis and fingernail assay.

After the baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to receive their first PARTNER or Education session, of which will occur immediately following their baseline assessment.

The study will employ a stratified randomization procedure using an algorithm via Qualtrics. Participants will be randomized using three couple-level criteria as reported by the participant. Participants will be randomized based on relationship length difference (less than 2 years versus 2 or more), age difference (less than 3 years versus 3 or more), racial difference (both white versus all others combinations), PrEP use (Participant reports current PrEP use versus does not report current use).

Each of the intervention arms consists of 4 sessions that occur once a week for four consecutive weeks.

All participants complete a 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month follow ups. At the 3 month follow up (post baseline assessment), participants complete a survey with a TLFB, fingernail specimen collection for drug use. For participants indicating current PrEP use, participants and give blood for a dried blood spot analysis and an additional fingernail sample to test for PrEP uptake/adherence.

At the 6 month follow up month follow up (post baseline assessment), participants complete a survey with a TLFB, fingernail specimen collection for drug use, biological testing for STI (gonorrhea & chlamydia via urinalysis and rectal swabs) and HIV testing using the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo test. Participants indicating current PrEP use will receive an HIV test via blood draw for a laboratory immunoassay Also, for participants indicating current PrEP use, participants and give blood for a dried blood spot analysis and an additional fingernail sample to test for PrEP uptake/adherence.

At the 9 month follow up (post baseline assessment), participants complete a survey with a TLFB, fingernail specimen collection for drug use. For participants indicating current PrEP use, participants and give blood for a dried blood spot analysis and an additional fingernail sample to test for PrEP uptake/adherence.

At final assessment (12 month follow up post baseline assessment), participants complete a survey with a TLFB, fingernail specimen collection for drug use, biological testing for STI (gonorrhea & chlamydia via urinalysis and rectal swabs) and HIV testing using the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo test. Participants indicating current PrEP use will receive an HIV test via blood draw for a laboratory immunoassay Also, for participants indicating current PrEP use, participants and give blood for a dried blood spot analysis and an additional fingernail sample to test for PrEP uptake/adherence.

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.
196

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10018
        • Hunter College- City University of New York

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 29 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 to 29 years of age (inclusive);
  • Main partner must be aged 18 or older.
  • Must be in a main partner relationship with another male (duration ≥ 1 months);
  • HIV-negative serostatus (confirmed by rapid test);
  • Recent (past 30 day) use of at least one of the substances identified as most commonly used by YMSM (marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or other opiates, MDMA, psychedelics, GHB, and/or ketamine);
  • Sexual behavior meeting CDC criteria for PrEP candidacy (TRB with a casual partner in the past 30 days or TRB with a non-monogamous or serodiscordant main partner).
  • Participants must reside in the NYC metro area
  • Ability to communicate in English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unstable, serious psychiatric symptoms (assessed by the Psychotic Disorder subsection of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV);
  • Current suicidal/homicidal ideation;
  • Evidence of gross cognitive impairment (a score of <24 on the mini-mental state examination)
  • A history of severe physical or sexual Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) victimization in the current relationship in which participants report not currently feeling "safe" in their relationship and/or coerced to participate in the study.

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: PARTNER Intervention
This intervention is a four-session intervention designed to increase PrEP uptake, increase PrEP adherence, and reduce drug use and HIV transmission risk behaviors of individuals in relationships.
Behavioral: PARTNER
The PATRNER intervention addresses, drug use, PrEP uptake/adherence, and HIV transmission risk by enhancing communication skills by integrating motivational interviewing and video-based communication skills training.
Active Comparator: Education Intervention
This intervention is a four-session intervention that discussed drug use and its effect on physiological social functioning.
Behavioral: Education Intervention
The Education intervention consists of a 4-session health education intervention that addresses sexual risk and substance use through a lecture and question and answer format.

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
Illicit Drug Use Days
Time Frame: Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month
The self-reported number of illicit drug use days (not including marijuana) in the past 30 days
Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month
Cannabis Use Days
Time Frame: Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month
The self-reported number of cannabis drug use days in the past 30 days
Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month
Number (Proportion) of Participants Who Report Sexual HIV Transmission Risk With Casual Partners
Time Frame: Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month
The percentage of participants in each condition reporting sexual HIV transmission risk with a casual partner (any condomless sex with a casual partner in the absence of PrEP).
Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month
The Number (Proportion) of Participants Reporting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake
Time Frame: Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month,
The percentage participants in each condition who report having a current PrEP prescription at the time of follow-up.
Baseline, 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month, 12-Month,

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
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence
Time Frame: 12 Months
Via fingernail assay
12 Months
Effectiveness of intervention implementation
Time Frame: 12 Months
Qualitative analysis of intervention feedback interviews
12 Months

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.
Hunter College of City University of New York

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: Tyrel J Starks, PhD, Hunter College of City University of New York

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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.
February 14, 2018

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.
February 21, 2024

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.
February 21, 2024

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).
January 4, 2018

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.
January 4, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

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.
January 11, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

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 29, 2025

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 16, 2025

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, 2025

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.
  • R01DA045613 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

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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