e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma (e-HERO)

The goal of this study is to increase HIV and syphilis testing and linkage to care, increase condom use, and promote PrEP uptake among sexual minority men (SMM) and American Indian (AI) men in rural Oklahoma, a state that is an Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) priority state. The proposed supplement aims to: refine our preliminary intervention strategy in partnership with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) and rural peer mentors, and to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the e-HERO intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma

Detailed Description

In the U.S., incidence rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are disproportionately high among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men-referred to herein as sexual minority men (SMM)-compared to men who have sex with women only. Similarly, rates of HIV infection have increased among American Indian (AI) men. This is a two-group, active-control RCT of the online e-HERO intervention. Participants (100 SMM; 100 AI men) will be randomized into two groups in equal proportions. This study evaluates two versions of an online sexual health intervention. The e-HERO intervention includes 10 modules, totaling approximately 2.5 hours of content. Across these modules, e-HERO uses diverse delivery methods (e.g., videos, interactive games) to address HIV and STI knowledge, behavioral skills, HIV and STI testing intention, and instill self-efficacy to primary and secondary prevention behaviors. Those in the intervention condition will also engage in three virtual group discussion sessions with peer mentors. The control condition contains the same number of modules as e-HERO. The control condition contains the same number of modules as e-HERO. The control arm reflects HIV and STI information that is currently available on many websites, with the aim to understand how the cultural tailoring of e-HERO modules improves upon information that is readily available online.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Flagstaff, Arizona, United States, 86011-4065
      • Northern Arizona University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 17 years to 29 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provide signed and dated informed consent form
• Be willing and able to follow study procedures and instructions and be available for the duration of the study
• Be between 17 and 29 years of age
• Be American Indian or a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men. American Indian status is self-identified-no tribal enrollment verification will be required.
• Be a resident of Oklahoma, in a rural identified county

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anything that would place the individual at increased risk or preclude the individual's full compliance with, or completion of, the study.
• HIV diagnosis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: e-HERO 2.0; The e-HERO intervention includes 10 modules, totaling approximately 2.5 hours of content. Across these modules, e-HERO uses diverse delivery methods to address HIV and STI knowledge, behavioral skills, HIV and STI testing intention, and instill self-efficacy to primary and secondary prevention behaviors. Those in the intervention condition will also engage in three virtual group discussion sessions with peer mentors.	Behavioral: e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma; A behavioral intervention utilizing online platforms to assess the impact of cultural tailoring of health education material.
Active Comparator: e-HERO 1.0; e-HERO 1.0 contains the same number of modules as e-HERO. The control arm reflects HIV and STI information that is currently publicly available.	Behavioral: e-HERO: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma; A behavioral intervention utilizing online platforms to assess the impact of cultural tailoring of health education material.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HIV testing uptake	HIV testing uptake is assessed through the request of an at-home rapid HIV test through the e-HERO platforms.	Assessed at the end of month 3 of the intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HIV testing intention	Intention to get tested for HIV is assessed on a 6-point Likert scale (Extremely unlikely to get tested to Extremely likely to get tested).	Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months
STI testing intention	Intention to get tested for STIs is assessed on a 6-point Likert scale (Extremely unlikely to get tested to Extremely likely to get tested).	Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months
PrEP consult with medical provider	Single-item measure assessing if they have consulted with a medical provider among PrEP within the last month and/or 3 months.	1 month and 3 months
Condom use	Single-item assessment of condom use with sexual partner during the last sexual event.	Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northern Arizona University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD); Purdue University; Oklahoma State University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Julie Baldwin, Ph.D., Northern Arizona University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 19, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): June 19, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 27, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Sexual and Gender Minorities; American Indian; HIV Testing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Blood-Borne Infections; Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Slow Virus Diseases; HIV Infections; Behavior; Sexual Behavior; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Coitus
• Other Study ID Numbers: NAU IRB Protocol ID: 1827963-2; 3U54MD012388-05S2 (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