Embedding a Linkage to Preexposure Prophylaxis Care Intervention in Social Network Strategy and Partner Notification Services: Results From a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Daniel Teixeira da Silva, Alida Bouris, Arthi Ramachandran, Olivia Blocker, Billy Davis, James Harris, Maria Pyra, Laura K Rusie, Russell Brewer, Jade Pagkas-Bather, Anna Hotton, Jessica P Ridgway, Moira McNulty, Ramona Bhatia, John A Schneider, Daniel Teixeira da Silva, Alida Bouris, Arthi Ramachandran, Olivia Blocker, Billy Davis, James Harris, Maria Pyra, Laura K Rusie, Russell Brewer, Jade Pagkas-Bather, Anna Hotton, Jessica P Ridgway, Moira McNulty, Ramona Bhatia, John A Schneider
Abstract
Background: Increased preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among black men who have sex with men and black transgender women (BMSM/TW) is needed to end the HIV epidemic. Embedding a brief intervention in network services that engage individuals in HIV transmission networks for HIV/ sexually transmitted infections testing may be an important strategy to accelerate PrEP uptake.
Setting: Partner Services PrEP study is a pilot, randomized, control trial to improve linkage to PrEP care among BMSM/TW presenting for network services in Chicago, IL, from 2015 to 2017.
Methods: BMSM/TW (N = 146) aged 18-40 years were recruited from network services (partners services and social network strategy services). Intervention participants developed an individualized linkage plan based on the information-motivation-behavioral skills model and received minibooster sessions. Control participants received treatment as usual. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors were examined at baseline and 3- and 12-month postintervention. Intent-to-treat analyses examined linkage to PrEP care within 3-month postintervention (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes were PrEP initiation, time to linkage to PrEP care, and time to PrEP initiation.
Results: Compared with control participants, a significantly greater proportion of the intervention participants were linked to PrEP care within 3 months (24% vs. 11%; P = 0.04) and initiated PrEP (24% vs. 11%; P = 0.05). Among those linked to PrEP care within the study period, intervention participants were linked significantly sooner than control participants [median (interquartile range) days, 26.5 (6.0-141.8) vs. 191.5 (21.5-297.0); P = 0.05].
Conclusion: Study results support the preliminary efficacy of Partner Services PrEP to improve linkage to PrEP care and PrEP initiation among BMSM/TW.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02749955.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Source: PubMed