Women SHINE: Addressing Syndemics and HIV Among Women Through Tech-Based Peer Engagement

October 15, 2025 updated by: Jamila K. Stockman, University of California, San Diego
A two-arm RCT will be conducted to test the efficacy of Women SHINE, a web-based trauma-informed peer navigation-social support intervention (Figure 2). A total of 360 women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) with a history of adulthood interpersonal violence who have been prescribed ART but are non-adherent (< 90% ART adherent in the last 4 weeks) will be enrolled in the study. WLHA will be randomized (1:1) into one of the following conditions: 1) Women SHINE intervention arm (n=180) or 2) Control arm (n=180). The Women SHINE intervention arm will receive a four-month intervention including peer navigator (PN) one-on-one sessions, phone/text-based check-ins, 7 psychoeducation weekly support group sessions (120 mins.) co-facilitated by a licensed therapist and PN, and access to a static website with resources for HIV care, interpersonal violence, trauma, mental health, and substance use. The control arm will receive one group session (60 mins.) on self-care and well-being and access to the aforementioned website with resources. Women will complete a video-based survey and mailed hair sample self-collection at baseline, 4-, 8-, and 12-months post-randomization, to evaluate improvements in ART adherence (Aim 1), emotion regulation, and PTSD symptoms (Aim 2). Investigators will examine the mediating effect of individual (retention in HIV care, coping self-efficacy, social support, ancillary support services use) and socio-structural (stigma, medical mistrust) mechanisms of change on the efficacy of Women SHINE (Aim 3).

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

In the US, women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) are less likely to be adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and virally suppressed compared to men living with HIV/AIDS. Concurrently, WLHA experience high rates of interpersonal violence - physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse in childhood or adulthood - which often results in trauma (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and other adverse mental health, further contributing to ART non-adherence. Additionally, the confluence of syndemic or co-occurring adverse mental health, substance use, and socio-structural factors (e.g., HIV stigma, medical mistrust) further contribute to poor HIV outcomes. Social support through peer navigation and networks has been shown to counter these effects and improve HIV outcomes among WLHA. Likewise, psychoeducation addressing affective distress to improve mood and emotion management and relationship skills has been shown to reduce PTSD and depression. However, limited resources at HIV service agencies combined with socio-structural barriers (e.g., social isolation, lack of transportation) impede the potential effectiveness of in-person peer navigation. A scalable and sustainable solution is the use of technology in the form of web-based video interaction. Building on these promising pilot findings, investigators propose to conduct a randomized clinical trial of Women SHINE (new name) to improve ART adherence among WLHA affected by interpersonal violence in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Participants will be randomized to either: a) the intervention arm (n=180) where they will receive a 4-month program comprised of video-based peer navigation support via one-on-one sessions, 7 psychoeducation weekly support group sessions, and access to a static Women SHINE website with statewide resources for HIV care, interpersonal violence, trauma, mental health, and substance use; or b) the control arm (n=180) where they will receive a single group session on self-care and well-being, with access to the static Women SHINE website. Women will complete video-based survey assessments and mailed hair sample self-collection at baseline, 4-, 8-, and 12-months post-randomization. Compared to the control arm, investigators will determine if Women SHINE is associated with improvements in ART adherence (Aim 1) and PTSD symptoms and emotion regulation (Aim 2). Investigators will also examine individual (e.g., self-efficacy for coping, social support networks) and socio-structural (e.g., HIV stigma, medical mistrust) mechanisms of change in the efficacy of Women SHINE (Aim 3). If efficacious, investigators will conduct subsequent research to determine effective and feasible methods for intervention implementation nationwide to improve HIV outcomes among WLHA.

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 (Estimated)

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.
360

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
    • California
      • La Jolla, California, United States, 92093
        • Recruiting
        • The Regents of the Univ. of Calif., U.C. San Diego
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jamila K Stockman, PhD
        • Contact:

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 and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Cisgender female
  • Diagnosis of HIV by a physician, healthcare provider, or community health worker
  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Speaking and reading English or Spanish
  • Adulthood experiences of interpersonal violence
  • Currently prescribed ART
  • Self-report of <90% past-month ART adherence
  • Not currently participating in another adherence intervention
  • Access to an internet browser

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unwillingness to participate in the intervention
  • Transgender female
  • No diagnosis of HIV by a physician, healthcare provider, or community health worker
  • Aged less than 18 years
  • Not speaking and reading English or Spanish
  • Not currently prescribed ART
  • Self-report of >= 90% past-month ART adherence
  • Currently participating in another adherence intervention
  • No access to an internet browser
  • Cognitive impairment limiting the ability to provide informed consent
  • Experiencing only childhood experiences of interpersonal violence
  • Inability to safely participate in the study based on secondary screener

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

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.
Placebo Comparator: Control Arm
Women assigned to the control arm (n=180) will receive one 60-minute group session facilitated by the licensed clinical therapist (LCT) on self-care and well-being as it relates to HIV, interpersonal violence, trauma, adverse mental health, and substance use. During this session, women will be provided with resources to HIV care, interpersonal violence, trauma, mental health, and substance use, through a static website created for Women SHINE. The content will include: 1) names and locations of clinics and organizations, services provided, and contact information; 2) links to support websites and hotlines and 3) testimonials from WLHA.
Behavioral: Control
Single group session and access to website
Experimental: Women SHINE
Women SHINE consists of a four-month intervention that includes video-based one-on-one peer navigation and 7 weekly psycho-education support group sessions co-facilitated by a licensed clinical therapist (LCT) and peer navigator (PN). 180 women will be enrolled in the Women SHINE intervention and will remain in their assigned psycho-education support group sessions with the same members over the course of the intervention.
Behavioral: Women SHINE
Minimum of nine weekly one-on-one peer navigation sessions and 7 weekly psychoeducation support group sessions.

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
Change in ART Adherence
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Adherence to ART regime measured by tenofovir (TFV), emtricitabine (FTC) concentration in hair samples
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in ART Adherence
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of ART adherence (3 items)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in PTSD Symptoms
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of PTSD (9 items;PCL-5)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Emotion Regulation
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of emotion regulation (16 items; DERS-16)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Individual and Socio-Structural Mechanisms of Change
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of retention in HIV care
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Individual and Socio-Structural Mechanisms of Change
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of coping self-efficacy (26 items; CSE)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Individual and Socio-Structural Mechanisms of Change
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of social support (8 items; mMOS-SS)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Individual and Socio-Structural Mechanisms of Change
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of ancillary support utilization (26 items; adapted from CDC medical monitoring project), HIV stigma (30 items), and medical mistrust (12 items; GBMMS)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Individual and Socio-Structural Mechanisms of Change
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of HIV stigma (30 items), and medical mistrust (12 items; GBMMS)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Change in Individual and Socio-Structural Mechanisms of Change
Time Frame: 4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization
Validated self-report measure of medical mistrust (12 items; GBMMS)
4-, 8-, and 12-month post-randomization

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 California, San Diego

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 of Mental Health (NIMH)

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: Jamila K Stockman, PhD, MPH, University of California, San Diego

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.
November 15, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 1, 2026

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 26, 2022

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.
August 16, 2022

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.
August 22, 2022

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 20, 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 15, 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.
  • 210509
  • R01MH125785 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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