Testing a Community-Based Behavioral Program to Improve PrEP Use Among People Who Inject Drugs in Massachusetts

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the PrEP for Health behavioral intervention to improve the use of antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP among people who inject drugs PWID at risk of HIV infection. The trial involves 200 PWID recruited from two syringe service program SSP sites in Lawrence and BostonCambridge, Massachusetts. Researchers will compare this intervention with standard care to see if it increases PrEP uptake and adherence over time. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups the PrEP for Health intervention group or the standard of care group. The intervention group receives theory-based HIV and PrEP education, motivational interviewing, problem-solving and planning support, and ongoing patient navigation for three months. The standard care group receives PrEP information via a brief video and referrals to PrEP clinicians. Assessments occur at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after randomization. Participants will complete four follow-up visits during the 12-month study period, including rapid HIV testing at 12 months. Those who start PrEP will provide hair samples at 3, 6, and 12 months to measure adherence through drug levels. Researchers will evaluate PrEP uptake at 3 months and adherence at 3, 6, and 12 months. The study also examines how intervention effects vary by participant characteristics and monitors participant engagement through counseling and navigation support.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for Health