Reinforcement Intervention for HIV Testing

Overseen By Ruth Fetter

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: UConn Health

Disqualifiers: Recent HIV test, HIV positive

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether rewards can encourage more women to undergo HIV testing. It targets African American and Latina women, as well as those living in poverty, who may face higher HIV risks due to factors like drug use or partners with unknown HIV status. The trial compares two groups: one receives standard testing referrals and education, while the other also receives financial incentives for testing. Women who identify as African American or Latina, live in poverty, and have at least one HIV risk factor may be suitable for this trial. The goal is to determine if rewards increase testing rates and aid in early HIV detection. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to understand how incentives might improve health outcomes.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on increasing HIV testing rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that this reinforcement intervention is safe for increasing HIV testing?

Research has shown that rewards can safely and effectively encourage people to adopt healthy habits, such as getting tested for HIV. Past studies used incentives, like money, without major safety issues. Participants generally receive these reward-based methods well, and they carry little risk. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Reinforcement Intervention for HIV Testing trial because it explores a unique approach to encouraging HIV testing. Unlike standard methods that simply refer individuals for testing, this trial adds an element of reinforcement to standard referral and online HIV risk reduction training. This reinforcement involves additional encouragement and support, which could potentially increase the likelihood of individuals following through with testing. By focusing on behavioral reinforcement, this approach aims to improve testing rates and engagement, which is crucial for early detection and management of HIV.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for increasing HIV testing among high-risk women?

This trial will compare different approaches to increase HIV testing rates. Participants in Treatment Group A will receive a standard referral for HIV testing along with online HIV risk reduction training. Participants in Treatment Group B will receive the same standard referral and online training, but with additional reinforcement. Research has shown that certain methods, such as offering incentives or providing personalized and emotionally engaging programs, effectively increase the number of people getting tested for HIV. These methods help people understand the importance of knowing their HIV status and motivate them to get tested. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kristyn Zajac, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

UConn Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African American, Latina, and women living in poverty who are at high risk for HIV. Participants must be female, speak English or Spanish, work with high-risk women as a case manager or clinician, have not had a recent HIV test or are not already HIV positive, and plan to stay employed at their agency.

Inclusion Criteria

Has an address at which they expect to be able to receive mail and/or a phone to retrieve messages for the next 15 months

I can attend training and participate in evaluations.

Passes a quiz related to understanding the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

HIV positive

Planning to end employment at the agency within the next 3 months

Received a fourth-generation HIV test in the past 6 months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive standard referral for HIV testing and online HIV risk reduction training, with reinforcement for testing in the experimental group

12 months

Baseline assessment and ongoing testing opportunities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for HIV testing completion and other outcomes at 3-, 9-, and 15-month intervals

15 months

3 visits (in-person or virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Online risk reduction training
• Reinforcement
• Standard referral for HIV testing

Trial Overview The study tests if giving financial rewards can increase the rate of HIV testing among high-risk women. It compares standard referral services plus online education about HIV prevention against those same services with added cash incentives for getting tested now and again after certain periods.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment Group B Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Standard referral for HIV testing and online HIV risk reduction training plus reinforcement

Group II: Treatment Group A Active Control 2 Interventions

Standard referral for HIV testing and online HIV risk reduction training

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

UConn Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

218

Recruited

59,100+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03768986

A Reinforcement Intervention for Increasing HIV Testing ... The primary outcome is objective reports of HIV testing, verified by testing centers. Secondary outcomes are HIV risk behaviors, test results, self-efficacy, ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1446836/

Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV: The MARCH ... Theory and research suggest that behavioral interventions to prevent HIV/AIDS may be most effective when they are personalized and affectively compelling, ...

3. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e69540

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Mobile HIV Prevention ... Objective: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Combine app to increase HIV testing, STI testing, and PrEP initiation among ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537019302342

Evaluating the impact of post-trial implementation of RHIVA ... Implementation intervention and trial intervention practices achieved similar testing rates (3·764 vs. 3·081; 6% difference; 95% CI=(-5%,18%); p = 0·358), ...

5. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-025-04834-4

Single-Session Interventions To Enhance HIV Outcomes ... Both studies demonstrated improved treatment outcomes among participants in the SSI groups compared to the control groups. For instance, the ...

6. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-021-03160-9

Cumulative Effects of Adding a Small Group Intervention to ... The addition of the small group interventions to the baseline of monthly HIV tests resulted in increased rates of testing lasting 7 days after ...

7. bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-025-13401-5

Investigating impact of theory of planned behavior-based ... The present study aims to evaluate the impact of theory of planned behavior (TPB)-based educational intervention on HIV screening among ...