GODDESS (Gathering Online for Dialogue and Discussion to Enhance Social Support): Engaging Young African American Women in a Virtual Group App to Address Alcohol Misuse, Sexual Risk, and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in North Carolina (NC)
RTI International
Summary
The goal of this trial is to test a modified mobile health intervention (with a group component) relative to a mobile health intervention in a two-arm randomized trial with up to 500 young women who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative and who misuse alcohol. The expected outcomes are to: (1) determine the efficacy of the virtual group component in reducing alcohol use and sexual risk and increasing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization; and (2) understand selected outcomes for implementation. Participants will be randomized to receive either the mHealth app or the mHealth app plus the group component, and followed up at 3- and 6-months post-enrollment.
Description
Up to 500 participants who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative who engage in heavy alcohol use will be enrolled and referred to their local health departments for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Primary biobehavioral outcomes assessed will include reduced alcohol use (self-reported and biological, including phosphatidylethanol \[PEth\]), increased PrEP uptake (self-reported and biological), and reduced sexual risk (self-reported condomless sex and impaired sex and biological testing for HIV) at 3- and 6-month follow-up.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Selected Inclusion Criteria: * identify as Black/African American * identify as female * be between 18 and 30 years old * recent substance use * HIV negative and not currently on PrEP * have an Android or iOS-based smartphone Selected Exclusion Criteria: * test positive for HIV * participated in the previous study activities of the current study or previous related studies