Online HIV Prevention for Young Male Couples (2GETHER)

A New Approach to Integrating Primary and Secondary HIV Prevention in Young Male Couples

Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) are the only risk group in which rates of new HIV infections are on the rise. There has been a relative dearth of research dedicated to understanding these health disparities between gay/bisexual and heterosexual youth, and even less has focused on identifying factors that might promote resilience against negative health outcomes. Understanding both risk factors and processes of resilience is critical in developing efficacious interventions to improve health in this population.

Through a grant from the National Institutes of Health, the investigators completed formative research with young male couples. Qualitative interviews identified preferences for couples-based intervention format and content. While coupled YMSM expressed some interest in HIV prevention, they were most interested in building relationship skills. Coupled YMSM preferred group-based interventions in order to meet and learn from other couples but had concerns about discussing personal topics in groups. Quantitative analyses found that the rate of condomless sex in couples increased from adolescence to young adulthood. Further, the influence of older partners, partner violence, and drinking before sex were strongest in emerging adulthood. Informed by these, the investigators developed 2GETHER, which aims to reduce HIV transmission risk in couples by enhancing relationship functioning. 2GETHER is a four session program. The first two sessions are group sessions aimed at skills building, and the second two sessions are individualized couple sessions aimed at skills implementation. Modules address communication skills, coping with stress (both general and sexual minority-specific stress), relationship sexual satisfaction, and HIV transmission risk within the dyad and with outside partners. 2GETHER was designed to address HIV transmission risk in couples regardless of HIV status; couples learn to use behavioral and biomedical approaches to prevent both HIV acquisition (e.g., HIV testing, condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis) and transmission (e.g., medication adherence to reduce viral load), with an overarching emphasis on the health of the couple.

The investigators completed a pilot trial of 2GETHER with funding from Northwestern University. The pilot trial enrolled 57 couples (N=114) and demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of 2GETHER. This pilot trial used a non-randomized pre-/post-test design because the goal was to evaluate feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects in a large number of diverse couples to inform a future efficacy RCT. Post-test occurred 2 weeks post-intervention, or ~2 months post-baseline. The pilot trial recruited a diverse sample of couples in less than one year and each program module receive high ratings of acceptability during post-sessions evaluation and an exit interview. At the 2-week post-test, the investigators observed significant decreases in HIV risk behavior, improvements in motivation to reduce HIV risk, and improvements in relationship investment.

The current study will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of 2GETHER, a novel couples-based intervention for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) that aims to reduce HIV transmission risk by optimizing relationship functioning. This RCT will be implemented online; both the experimental and control condition will be administered via video-conferencing technology to couples across the United States. The investigators will conduct this RCT with 200 dyads (total individual N=400), who will be randomized to receive the 2GETHER intervention or existing public health practice (PHP). PHP differs depending on the HIV status of individuals in the dyad. Couples in which both members are HIV-negative will receive the single-session Couples-Based HIV Counseling and Testing (CHCT) protocol. Couples in which both members are HIV-positive will receive the single session Life-Steps medication adherence protocol. Couples with discordant HIV statuses will receive both interventions jointly.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hiv; Chlamydia; Gonorrhea
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: 2GETHER; Behavioral: Existing Public Health Practice

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 400
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Both members of the couple assigned male at birth and currently identify as male
• Both members of the couples at least 18 years of age; at least one between the ages of 18-29 years
• Both members of the couple identify one another as primary partners
• Couple has had oral or anal sex with one another in the past 3 months
• At least one member of the couple reports condomless anal sex with a serodiscordant or unknown status partner during the past 3 months
• At least one member of the couple reports an episode of binge-drinking or illicit drug use during the last 30 days
• Both members of the couple read and speak English at 8th grade level or better
• Both members have Internet access
• Both members audio recording of intervention sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe intimate partner violence during the past 3 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 2GETHER; 2GETHER is an HIV prevention and relationship education program designed for young male couples. 2GETHER consists of 4 sessions (2 group sessions, 2 individualized couple session) administered over the course of 1 month (1 session per week). Group sessions focus on developing skills related to sexual health and relationship functioning, including HIV prevention in couples, communication skills, coping skills, problem-solving and acceptance. Individualized couple sessions focus on implementation of skills specific to the needs of each couple.	Behavioral: 2GETHER; Communication skills, coping skills, problem-solving, acceptance, HIV prevention
Active Comparator: Existing Public Health Practice; The control condition consists of the single-session Couples-Based HIV Counseling and Testing protocol for HIV-negative couples, the single-session Life-Steps medication adherence protocol for HIV-positive couples, or both intervention delivered jointly to serodiscordant couples	Behavioral: Existing Public Health Practice; HIV testing, medication adherence, HIV risk reduction

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Condomless anal sex	change in number of condomless anal sex acts with serodiscordant or unknown status partners	12-months
Occurrence of Sexually Transmitted Infections	the incidence (number of new cases or diagnoses) or Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at 12 months	12-months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HIV Testing	frequency of HIV testing among HIV-negative or unknown status participants	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months
HIV Viral Load	change in serum viral load among HIV-positive participants	Baseline, 12-months
Alcohol and Drug Use Problems	change in problems associated with alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drug use	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months
Relationship Satisfaction	change in relationship satisfaction	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months
Communication Skills	change in communication skills with romantic partners	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Antiretroviral Medication Adherence	change in ART medication adherence among HIV-positive participants	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis	initiation of pre-exposure prophylaxis among HIV-negative or unknown status participants	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence	change in pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence among participants have have initiated pre-exposure prophylaxis	Baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michael E Newcomb, Ph.D., Northwestern University; Study Director: Jim Carey, MPH, Northwestern University; Study Director: Ricky Hill, Ph.D., Northwestern University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sullivan PS, Salazar L, Buchbinder S, Sanchez TH. Estimating the proportion of HIV transmissions from main sex partners among men who have sex with men in five US cities. AIDS. 2009 Jun 1;23(9):1153-62. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32832baa34.
• Greene GJ, Fisher KA, Kuper L, Andrews R, Mustanski B. "Is this normal? Is this not normal? There's no set example": Sexual Health Intervention Preferences of LGBT Youth in Romantic Relationships. Sex Res Social Policy. 2015 Mar;12(1):1-14. doi: 10.1007/s13178-014-0169-2.
• Jiwatram-Negron T, El-Bassel N. Systematic review of couple-based HIV intervention and prevention studies: advantages, gaps, and future directions. AIDS Behav. 2014 Oct;18(10):1864-87. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0827-7.
• Markman HJ, Rhoades GK. Relationship education research: current status and future directions. J Marital Fam Ther. 2012 Jan;38(1):169-200. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00247.x.
• Newcomb ME, Macapagal KR, Feinstein BA, Bettin E, Swann G, Whitton SW. Integrating HIV Prevention and Relationship Education for Young Same-Sex Male Couples: A Pilot Trial of the 2GETHER Intervention. AIDS Behav. 2017 Aug;21(8):2464-2478. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-1674-0.
• Newcomb ME, Sarno EL, Bettin E, Carey J, Ciolino JD, Hill R, Garcia CP, Macapagal K, Mustanski B, Swann G, Whitton SW. Relationship Education and HIV Prevention for Young Male Couples Administered Online via Videoconference: Protocol for a National Randomized Controlled Trial of 2GETHER. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Jan 27;9(1):e15883. doi: 10.2196/15883.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 5, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 23, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 12, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): September 15, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 28, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2023
• Last Verified: July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Neisseriaceae Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial; Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Gonorrhea
• Other Study ID Numbers: DP2DA042417 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No