Clinical Research Directory

This component will use a community coalition program as its base model for reducing structural barriers, shaping community social norms and raising awareness to reduce HIV among HHI MSM. This will be achieved through: 1) facilitating a reduction in social, structural, and policy barriers to HIV testing, PrEP, and viral suppression through fostering collective efficacy, promoting norms within the local service sectors (e.g., social, legal, economic, etc.), and advancing advocacy efforts that support the strategic prioritization of access to resources and services for HHI MSM; and 2) amplifying awareness, education, and capacity building around HIV prevention and treatment resources and messaging (including other HPTN 096 components).

A robust social media strategy will be used to reach and engage HHI MSM throughout each participating community. Utilizing a multitude of social media communication and marketing tactics, social media content will be used to educate and empower HHI MSM so that they can make informed decisions and behavioral changes to stop HIV acquisition and transmission, with emphasis on accessing HIV prevention and treatment services, the uptake of PrEP and the importance of staying engaged in care and achieving viral suppression. In addition, the strategy will promote other study components, encouraging HHI MSM to engage in care at PHASE healthcare facilities (HCFs), seek help from peer supporters and take advantage of the environmental changes put in place via the health access coalitions.

Peer supporters, who may possess a shared and/or lived experience, will provide HHI MSM with emotional and practical support, using a HIV-status neutral approach, as well as share information on locally available sexual health and HIV-related resources and support services. Peers may provide support in-person or virtually and may be housed at local community-based organizations. In addition, when appropriate, the use of PHASE HCFs will be encouraged for those seeking healthcare services.

The PHASE component is an HCF-level practice improvement program designed to enhance the provision of healthcare services for HHI MSM. PHASE aims to create an autonomy-supportive healthcare environment that supports HHI MSM engagement in HIV-related care and services and helps to promote increased HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, PrEP and antiretroviral therapy uptake, retention in care, and viral suppression rates for HHI MSM. The primary study outcomes will be collected at all HCFs participating in PHASE.