Helping women learn about PrEP during primary care visits
Encouraging Multiple PrEP Options for Women Engaged in PRimary Care (EMPOWER)
A tech-based program in primary care will help women at higher risk for HIV, especially those with low health literacy, understand and choose PrEP for prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168950 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a short, technology-based health literacy program during your primary care visit that explains PrEP in clear, easy-to-understand language. The team will use an electronic health record (EHR) algorithm to identify women who might benefit most and invite them to use the program. The program is designed to prepare you for a conversation with your clinician and make it easier to decide whether PrEP is right for you. This pilot will test the approach at participating primary care clinics to see how it works in routine care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adult women receiving care at participating primary care clinics, particularly those at increased risk for HIV or who have low health literacy, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are already HIV-positive, already taking PrEP, not receiving care at participating clinics, or who are not women are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more women could know about and start PrEP, reducing their risk of HIV infection.
How similar studies have performed: PrEP itself is proven effective and prior studies show women value clinician conversations about PrEP, but this specific tech-enabled primary care approach is novel and is now being piloted.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bailey, Stacy C — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Bailey, Stacy C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.