Infectious Disease (ID) Testing OUtreach in Carceral Hubs (ID-TOUCH)

Massachusetts HIV and Justice Involved Populations Research Network

This pilot feasibility study represents part 3 of a larger R61 study, where the investigators will follow a cohort about their experiences with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.

This project aims to assess the effectiveness of an intervention at two jail sites in the Boston area: South Bay House of Corrections and Nashua Street Jail implemented in January of 2025 that is aimed at improving HIV testing practices and HIV treatment in those carceral facilities. This implementation was developed independently of the investigators' study activities. The jails worked to develop changes in their electronic health record to offer HIV testing at various points in their intake and physical exam process. HIV care was not well-integrated with the jails' existing intake and healthcare administration systems and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) program. The investigators will evaluate the intervention the jails developed to address these issues. The outcomes of interest are more implementation than effectiveness outcomes.

The primary goal of this study is to identify existing barriers in the carceral healthcare setting that prevent the improvement of HIV testing and treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: HIV Infections; Opioid Use Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: ID-TOUCH

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 75
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Alysse Wurcel, MD MS; Phone Number: 617-414-5951; Email: Alysse.Wurcel@bmc.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Brindet Socrates, BS; Phone Number: 617-414-5951; Email: brindet.socrates@bmc.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118
      • Recruiting
      • South Bay House of Corrections
      • Contact: Alysse Wurcel, MD MS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals who are currently incarcerated in either South Bay Correctional Facility or Nashua Street Jail. To be considered eligible they must have opioid use disorder (OUD), be older than 18 years of age, and by self-report say that they will be released from the jail within about one month of the day of study enrollment.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Incarcerated at South Bay House of Corrections or Nashua Street Jail
• Participant Report that they will be leaving jail within 1 month.
• Participant must be comfortable speaking in the English Language
• Has Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) indicated by participation in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program and/or self-report

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive ability that prevents obtained consent or completion of study activities (defined through Research Assistant (RA) determination)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

ID-TOUCH Program; Participants will receive the ID-TOUCH intervention while incarcerated and meet with the study team three times for data collection: once before release, once one week after release, and once three months after release. Information collected will include: utilization of HIV services while in jail and while in the community and an exploration of self-reported high-risk behavior, perceived stigma and discrimination, and medical mistrust.

Behavioral: ID-TOUCH; ID TOUCH is a multi-pronged intervention to increase HIV testing and PrEP linkage that includes jail-based HIV care process improvements with post-incarceration outreach and linkage to community services.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants that use HIV services while incarcerated	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. If there is any mention of HIV services of any type such as testing, obtaining information. or counseling related to HIV while incarcerated, the participant will be categorized as using HIV services/Yes.	on average 4-6 weeks
Number of participants that use of PrEP if HIV negative	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. For participants who are HIV negative, if there is any mention of PrEP being used the participant will be categorized as using PrEP/Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration
Number of participants that have HIV testing in the community if unknown status during incarceration	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants with unknown HIV status during incarceration who are tested for HIV in the community, will be categorized as Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants that demonstrate HIV knowledge	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants who demonstrate HIV knowledge will be categorized as Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration
Number of participants that have Risk Behaviors for HIV	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants who have rsk behaviors for HIV will be categorized as Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration
Number of participants that have substance use	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants who report they use substances [eg smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or using any illicit drugs] will be categorized as Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration
Number of participants with Sexually Transmitted infections (STIs)	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants who report that they were tested and told they have any STI other than HIV [eg syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis C virus (HCV)] will be categorized as Yes.	1 month, 3 months post incarceration
Number of participants with PrEP Awareness	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants who demonstrate awareness about PrEP will be categorized as Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration
Number of participants with acute healthcare utilization	This will be assessed from a review of information abstracted from study questionnaires and interviews with study staff and recorded as a binary 'Yes or No'. Participants who report they were either hospitalized or received care in an emergency room will be categorized as Yes.	1 week, 3 months post incarceration

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Boston Medical Center
• Collaborators: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); South Bay House of Corrections; Nashua Street Jail
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alysse Wurcel, MD MS, Boston Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 23, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 4, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 6, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): November 7, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HIV testing; Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); Carceral system; Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN); End HIV Epidemic (EHE); HIV Services
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Narcotic-Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Opioid-Related Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: H-45426; 1R61DA060588-01 (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