Improving HIV care and treatment adherence among adolescents through social networks
Understanding and Developing a Network-based Social Support Intervention to Improve Retention in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence for Adolescents Living With HIV
This study is testing a new way to help teenagers with HIV stay in care and stick to their treatment by using their friends and social connections for support.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 15 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Wake Forest University Health Sciences Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Winston-Salem, North Carolina and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT04077047 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to enhance the retention and adherence of adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in care by leveraging their social networks. It involves a preparatory phase where researchers will gather data from various sources to develop a theoretical model that informs the intervention. The study will utilize social network analyses to understand how these networks impact ALWH's engagement with HIV care and treatment. Following this, participatory methods will be employed to create a tailored social support intervention, which will be piloted to assess its acceptability, feasibility, safety, and efficacy.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adolescents aged 15-24 living with HIV who reside in the study area and can engage their social network in the intervention.
Not a fit: Patients who are not living with HIV or those who cannot recruit a social network member for participation may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve treatment adherence and retention in care for adolescents living with HIV, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using social networks to improve health outcomes, suggesting that this approach could be effective, though this specific intervention is novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * reside in study area * able to provide consent or assent * agreeable to allowing the research team to have access to their clinic data to assess retention in human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV) care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence * each Adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) must recruit at least one social network member to participate in the intervention with them Exclusion Criteria: * None
Where this trial is running
Winston-Salem, North Carolina and 1 other locations
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine — Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation — Cape Town, South Africa (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Tiarney Ritchwood, PhD — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Tiarney Ritchwood, PhD
- Email: tritchwo@wakehealth.edu
- Phone: 336-713-4238
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.