Understanding and addressing medical mistrust to boost HIV prevention for HLMSM
Official title: Exploring and Intervening on Multilevel Factors of Medical Mistrust among Hispanic/Latino Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (HLMSM) for HIV Prevention in a Priority Jurisdiction
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11413114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-part study will explore why Hispanic/Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men experience mistrust in medical care and test a culturally aligned plan to improve HIV testing and PrEP use in Mecklenburg County, NC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $461,891 |
| NIH project number | 5U01PS005250-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Hispanic/Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Mecklenburg County, NC who speak Spanish, English, or both, and who are engaged with or at risk for HIV prevention and care services.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the HLMSM community or those not in Mecklenburg County may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses mixed methods with community input to uncover the social, cultural, and systemic factors driving medical mistrust among HLMSM who speak Spanish, English, or both. Researchers will gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, then tailor a bilingual, status-neutral intervention designed to increase HIV testing, PrEP uptake, and engagement in care. The study aims to refine and test the intervention within a priority jurisdiction for Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US, leveraging local partnerships and CBPR principles. If successful, this work could inform scalable strategies to reduce HIV disparities in HLMSM communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could increase HIV testing and PrEP uptake among HLMSM, helping reduce HIV disparities in the targeted community.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work using community-based and multilevel approaches has shown promise in improving engagement with HIV prevention services in similar populations, though implementations vary by locale.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhodes, Scott D — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Rhodes, Scott D
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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.