HIV testing and text-message prevention in community dental clinics
Testing and Texting in Community Health Center Dental Clinics to Diagnose and Prevent HIV Infection
This project offers on-site rapid HIV tests and prevention text messages to adults who receive care at community health center dental clinics in areas with high HIV rates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164497 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you go to a participating community health center dental clinic, you may be offered a quick on-site rapid HIV test during your dental visit and, if at higher risk, receive tailored prevention text messages. The team will first talk with patients and dental staff to design acceptable testing and texting approaches and pilot them. In the trial phase, dental clinics in Suffolk County, MA will be randomly assigned to offer on-site rapid testing versus referral for testing, and researchers will compare testing uptake and linkage to prevention services. The work aims to make it easier to know your HIV status and get prevention help where you already receive dental care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21 years and older) who receive care at participating community health center dental clinics in Suffolk County, MA, especially those at higher risk for HIV, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not attend participating clinics or who are already engaged in HIV care and prevention services may not get additional benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase HIV testing and connect more people to prevention services quickly through routine dental visits and supportive text messages.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows that rapid HIV testing in nontraditional health settings and text-message interventions can improve testing and prevention uptake, though combining both within dental clinics is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henshaw, Michelle M — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Henshaw, Michelle M
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.