Chatbot to boost PrEP use among Black MSM in the Southern United States
Official title: Leveraging Chatbot Technology to Improve PrEP Awareness and Uptake Among Black MSM in the Southern United States
Run by Yale University · NCT05968755 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A chatbot is being tested to raise PrEP awareness and help Black men who have sex with men in the U.S. South start and continue PrEP.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Men only |
| Enrollment | 145 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Yale University Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Miami, Florida and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 13, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05968755 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Cisgender Black men who are 18 years or older, live in a Southern state, have internet access, speak English, and report condomless sex with men in the past 6 months.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals not residing in Southern states or not at risk may not benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project will develop and pilot a chatbot designed to provide PrEP information and guidance to Black MSM in the Southern United States. It compares chatbot-delivered content with usual care to see if the chat tool improves PrEP awareness and uptake. The study will assess acceptability and feasibility, including user engagement, over a defined pilot period. Participants must be eligible based on geography, demographics, and risk factors, and will interact with the chatbot in English via the internet. Lead sponsor is Yale University, with collaboration from Gilead Sciences and several Southern sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the chatbot could make PrEP information more accessible and help more high-risk individuals initiate PrEP.
How similar studies have gone: Prior digital health tools have shown promise for increasing PrEP awareness, but evidence for chatbot-based PrEP uptake in Black MSM in the U.S. South is exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being cisgender Black male * Being aged ≥ 18 years * Having Internet access * Speaking English * Self-reporting condomless sex with another man in the past 6 months * Living in the U.S. South * HIV negative or untested. Exclusion Criteria: * Not residing in a U.S. Census Bureau-defined Southern state: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV. * Having received antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment.
Where it's running
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Care 4 U Community Health Center
Miami, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Community Care Resources of FL (CCRSFL)
Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States Recruiting -
NAESM, Inc
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
RAO Community Health
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Zhao Ni — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Zhao Ni
- Email: Zhao.ni@yale.edu
- Phone: 203-737-3039
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.