Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

NCT number NCT05729256
Other study ID # 6603e
Secondary ID R01AA030461-01
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
First received
Last updated
Start date November 1, 2023
Est. completion date November 2026

Study information

Verified date November 2023
Source Boston University Charles River Campus
Contact Tibor Palfai, PhD
Phone 6173539345
Email palfai@bu.edu
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

HIV transmission remains a significant public health concern, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Condomless anal intercourse (CAI) continues to be the major route of transmission for MSM. Thus, to reduce the incidence of HIV, it is critical to identify how contextual risk factors influence CAI and develop behavioral strategies that modify risk factors directly or reduce their influence on behavior. This study will examine the mechanisms through which one of the central contextual risk factors, heavy drinking, influences sexual decision processes in the natural environment and test the benefit of a brief intervention designed to reduce sexual risk behavior among those who engage in heavy drinking.


Description:

Despite prevention efforts over the past two decades, HIV transmission remains a significant public health concern, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Approximately 65% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States are due to male-to-male sexual contact. Condomless anal intercourse (CAI) continues to be the major route of transmission for MSM. Thus, to reduce the incidence of HIV, it is critical to identify risk factors that underlie HIV acquisition and transmission and develop behavioral strategies that modify them directly or reduce the influence of these factors on behavior. Alcohol use, particularly heavy episodic drinking, is a central modifiable risk factor that may increase CAI in conjunction with other contextual variables. Although there have been a limited number of HIV prevention interventions that incorporate alcohol in sexual risk reduction efforts, relatively little is known about how such interventions impact sexual decision-making in "heat-of the-moment", particularly while intoxicated and in high arousal states that commonly are proximal to sexual behavior. The goals of this study are to: (1) better understand the within-person mechanisms linking alcohol and arousal with CAI and (2) test the efficacy of an HIV prevention intervention approach that both reduces alcohol consumption and mitigate the influence of intoxication and arousal on CAI. These complementary objectives are addressed through an experience sampling method study (ESM) that examines the impact of an HIV prevention intervention that targets sexual risk and alcohol use. This study will examine whether mechanisms that underlie sexual risk in the natural environment and can be modified by intervention. In the proposed study, non-monogamous adult MSM who engage in heavy drinking and CAI will be randomly assigned to an intervention condition that addresses alcohol use and sexual decision-making in "heat-of-the-moment" situations. The intervention will be preceded and followed by 3-week ESM bursts of intensive longitudinal assessment of alcohol use, arousal, sexual delay discounting, working memory, and CAI. 4-month follow-up data will be collected. Results will contribute to the long-term goal of enhancing effectiveness of behavioral HIV prevention interventions that address alcohol use.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Recruiting
Enrollment 354
Est. completion date November 2026
Est. primary completion date September 2026
Accepts healthy volunteers Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Gender Male
Age group 18 Years and older
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria: - At least 18 years of age - Cisgender man who has had condomless anal intercourse with another man in the past 3 months - Engaged in heavy drinking (assessed by either weekly National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines [> 14 for men], and/or a heavy drinking episode in the past month [> 4 drinks on an occasion]) - Has a smartphone Exclusion Criteria: - HIV-infection - Currently using PrEP - In an exclusive monogamous sexual relationship - History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, or current suicidal intent - Current treatment for alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder - Unable to provide one or more individuals who can serve as an alternate contact

Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


Intervention

Behavioral:
Self-Regulation Intervention
Single session motivational intervention on reducing heavy drinking and sexual risk behavior, encouraging consideration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), followed by 4 weeks of text messages on content relevant to drinking goals and support for healthy sexual choices
Brief Advice and Information
Psychoeducation about heavy drinking risks, discussion of barriers to safe sex, information about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Locations

Country Name City State
United States Boston University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Boston Massachusetts

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
Boston University Charles River Campus National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Syracuse University, University of South Dakota

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (2)

Gordon CM, Carey MP, Carey KB. Effects of a drinking event on behavioral skills and condom attitudes in men: implications for HIV risk from a controlled experiment. Health Psychol. 1997 Sep;16(5):490-5. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.16.5.490. — View Citation

Sobell LC, Agrawal S, Sobell MB, Leo GI, Young LJ, Cunningham JA, Simco ER. Comparison of a quick drinking screen with the timeline followback for individuals with alcohol problems. J Stud Alcohol. 2003 Nov;64(6):858-61. doi: 10.15288/jsa.2003.64.858. — View Citation

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary Count of number of times engaged in Condomless Anal Intercourse (CAI) from Sexual Behavior Survey Self-reported number of times engaged in CAI Past 90 days
Primary Heavy Drinking Episodes from the Quick Drinking Screen Self-reported number of days consumed 5 or more standard drinks Past 90 days
Primary Average number of drinks per week from the Quick Drinking Screen Self-reported average number of drinks per week multiplied by frequency of drinking per week Past 90 days
Primary Condomless Anal Intercourse: Experience Sampling Self-reported frequency of CAI from experience sampling questions ESM assessments over a 3 week period
Primary Alcohol Use: Experience Sampling Self-reported number of drinks and perceived intoxication (composite variable) ESM assessments over 3 week period
See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT06162897 - Case Management Dyad N/A
Completed NCT03999411 - Smartphone Intervention for Smoking Cessation and Improving Adherence to Treatment Among HIV Patients Phase 4
Completed NCT02528773 - Efficacy of ART to Interrupt HIV Transmission Networks
Active, not recruiting NCT05454839 - Preferences for Services in a Patient's First Six Months on Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV in South Africa
Recruiting NCT05322629 - Stepped Care to Optimize PrEP Effectiveness in Pregnant and Postpartum Women N/A
Completed NCT02579135 - Reducing HIV Risk Among Adolescents: Evaluating Project HEART N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT01790373 - Evaluating a Youth-Focused Economic Empowerment Approach to HIV Treatment Adherence N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT06044792 - The Influence of Primary HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations on Immune Reconstruction in PLWH
Completed NCT04039217 - Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Persistence in Different Body Compartments in HIV Negative MSM Phase 4
Active, not recruiting NCT04519970 - Clinical Opportunities and Management to Exploit Biktarvy as Asynchronous Connection Key (COMEBACK) N/A
Completed NCT04124536 - Combination Partner HIV Testing Strategies for HIV-positive and HIV-negative Pregnant Women N/A
Recruiting NCT05599581 - Tu'Washindi RCT: Adolescent Girls in Kenya Taking Control of Their Health N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT04588883 - Strengthening Families Living With HIV in Kenya N/A
Completed NCT02758093 - Speed of Processing Training in Adults With HIV N/A
Completed NCT02500446 - Dolutegravir Impact on Residual Replication Phase 4
Completed NCT03805451 - Life Steps for PrEP for Youth N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03902431 - Translating the ABCS Into HIV Care N/A
Completed NCT00729391 - Women-Focused HIV Prevention in the Western Cape Phase 2/Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05736588 - Elimisha HPV (Human Papillomavirus) N/A
Recruiting NCT03589040 - Darunavir and Rilpivirine Interactions With Etonogestrel Contraceptive Implant Phase 2