AYAHIV Role-based Responsibilities for Oncology-focused Workforce (ARROW)

January 13, 2026 updated by: Implenomics

Integrated Delivery of Cancer Control Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults Living With HIV in Zambia

Adolescents and young adults living with HIV experience higher premature mortality from cancer than their uninfected peers. In Zambia, because of multilevel barriers, interventions for early diagnosis and optimized treatment to reduce this cancer mortality are underutilized for this disproportionally impacted cohort. In this study, the investigators will test peer-to-peer education and support strategies to increase use of early diagnosis services in HIV treatment facilities and improve compliance with cancer treatment in the cancer center.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Zambia is a global epicenter for HIV with a large number of adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYAHIV). Compared with their uninfected peers, AYAHIV are at increased risk of developing cancer, most frequently Kaposi sarcoma (KS), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and cervical cancer (CC). To reduce this premature mortality, evidence-based strategies should be implemented to both diagnose cancers at an earlier stage and help AYAHIV complete recommended cancer treatment. The investigators will use theory-informed multilevel strategies to create the AYAHIV Role-based Responsibilities for Oncology-focused Workforce (ARROW) program to increase uptake of services for early diagnosis and improve compliance with cancer treatment for KS, NHL, and CC. Our overall approach is based on the evidence-based strategy of peer support for engagement and learning. At the individual level, the investigators will address barriers by embedding peer counselors to support AYAHIV. At the provider level, the investigators will create a peer-to-peer learning network to build linkages between those specializing in pediatric and adult HIV treatment and cancer care. At the health care system level, the investigators will bring together health care administrators and Zambian Ministry of Health policy makers to review barriers and to develop and implement collaborative solutions. The investigators will use implementation science methods to evaluate effectiveness, implementation outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of the ARROW program compared with a one-time education campaign by pursuing the following aims:

Aim 1. Conduct randomized trials to compare the ARROW program with the one-time education campaign in increasing services received by AYAHIV to facilitate early diagnosis (physical exam for KS and NHL, CC screening, and timely diagnostic testing) and in improving adherence to cancer treatment.

Aim 2. Use mixed methods to assess implementation outcomes of the ARROW program compared with one-time education based on acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, fidelity, and sustainability.

Aim 3. Perform economic evaluations to assess cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment scenarios.

Successful completion of these aims will yield a set of data-driven strategies that can be scaled up to reduce premature cancer mortality among AYAHIV. To support future implementation efforts, the investigators will generate incremental cost-effectiveness estimates, conduct policy simulations, evaluate implementation outcomes, and assess challenges and facilitators to optimize the ARROW program. The model tested in Zambia can serve as a blueprint for other Sub-Saharan African countries to ensure AYAHIV receive optimal services to facilitate early diagnosis and ensure completion of guideline-recommended treatments. The ARROW program will also provide a framework for implementing expanded services, such as preventive services and survivorship care, to further reduce the burden of cancer AYAHIV face.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

4100

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Zambia
      • Lusaka, Zambia
        • Recruiting
        • Public Health Facilities
        • Contact:
          • Ronald Mungoni

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 15 to 39 years of age at the time of study enrolment, on antiretroviral medication (ART) for at least 6 months and with no pending plans to move from current residence during the 3-year study duration

Exclusion Criteria:

  • pregnant at study enrolment

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: Screening
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ARROW strategies
The ARROW strategies which use peer-peer support at the patient level (through peer counselors), at the provider level (through peer lead education sessions) and at the health system level (through a health collaborative forum) to deliver high quality screenings and ensure cancer treatment completion.
Other: ARROW strategies
ARROW strategies are peer-to-peer support at the patient, provider and health system levels
Active Comparator: One-time education
The comparator arm participants will receive one-time education and usual care services.
Other: One-time education
The comparison group will receive a one-time education campaign that will provide informational brochures to adolescents and young adults living with HIV and HIV providers

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion who complete screening/physical examination
Time Frame: 12 months after study enrollment
Number who complete screening/physician exams
12 months after study enrollment
Proportion who complete recommended cancer treatment modalities
Time Frame: 12 months after diagnosis
Number who complete treatment
12 months after diagnosis

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion who complete recommended follow-up supplemental diagnostic procedures
Time Frame: 3 months from receipt of follow-up referral
Number who complete follow-up
3 months from receipt of follow-up referral
Proportion who initiate cancer treatment
Time Frame: 3 months from diagnosis
Number who initiate treatment
3 months from diagnosis
Proportion alive at 12 months
Time Frame: 12 months after diagnosis
Number alive at 12 months
12 months after diagnosis

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Implenomics

Collaborators

Population Council
RTI International

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)

May 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 15, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 15, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

August 22, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 13, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Imp001

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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