Social Network Strategies for Increasing PrEP Use in HIV/AIDS

(SNAP Trial)

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: Any Age

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin

Must be taking: PrEP

Disqualifiers: HIV-positive, Not male at birth, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how social networks can assist African-American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) in starting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that helps prevent HIV infection. Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will have network leaders trained to promote PrEP, while the other will receive brief HIV prevention counseling. Those who have had sex with at least one male partner in the past year and belong to a network where most members are HIV-negative may be suitable for this study. The trial takes place in Milwaukee, WI, and Cleveland, OH, focusing on how social connections can influence health choices. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to understand how social networks can enhance health outcomes.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this social network approach is safe for increasing PrEP use?

Research has shown that social networks can safely and effectively promote healthy behaviors. For instance, studies have found that these methods can improve HIV testing and prevention without harming participants. This involves training community leaders to share health information with their friends and neighbors.

In another study, a social network approach helped increase the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication to prevent HIV. This study reported no major negative side effects, indicating that using social networks to promote PrEP is generally safe.

Overall, evidence suggests that social network strategies are safe for promoting health, including increasing PrEP use. Participants can feel assured that these methods usually have a strong safety record. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new way to increase the use of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV prevention through social networks. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on individual counseling, this strategy leverages influential leaders within social groups to spread awareness and encourage PrEP adoption. By training these leaders to communicate the benefits of PrEP, the trial aims to create a ripple effect, potentially reaching more individuals and fostering community-wide acceptance. This method could offer a more engaging and community-driven approach to HIV prevention, which might be more effective than standard one-on-one counseling.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for increasing PrEP use in AAMSM?

Research has shown that social networks can increase the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a method to prevent HIV. In one study, 36% of participants expressed a likelihood of using PrEP in the future after learning about it. This trial will compare two approaches: a Social Network Approach and a Comparison group receiving brief HIV counseling. Social networks play a crucial role in promoting PrEP use. Another study found that PrEP use increased from 10% to 31% when social network strategies were employed. These findings suggest that involving social networks can effectively boost PrEP use among African-American men who have sex with men. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jeffrey A. Kelly, PhD

Principal Investigator

Medical College of Wisconsin

Yuri A. Amirkhanian, PhD

Principal Investigator

Medical College of Wisconsin

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African-American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) in Milwaukee and Cleveland. Participants must be male at birth, 16 or older, and have had a male sexual partner in the last year. Over half of each participant's network must also join and report being HIV-negative.

Inclusion Criteria

I was assigned male at birth.

I'm sorry, but "NETWORKS" is not a clinical trial exclusion criterion. Can you please provide more context or information?

More than 49% of all network members must self-report as HIV-negative at baseline

Exclusion Criteria

Less than half of my eligible friends agree to join.

Except for the seed, individuals must not be named as a friend by an already-enrolled participant

For the seed only, individuals must self-report as HIV-positive serostatus

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Counseling

All participants receive individual baseline counseling about risk reduction and PrEP, with referral offered to clinics prescribing PrEP

1 session

Intervention

Leaders in the experimental condition networks attend a 5-session intervention to train and support them in promoting PrEP within their networks

5 sessions

Booster Sessions

Two additional booster sessions spaced monthly to support maintenance of leaders' efforts in promoting PrEP

2 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in PrEP use, knowledge, attitudes, and other behavioral measures at 6- and 15-month follow-up points

15 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Brief HIV Prevention Counseling
• Social Network

Trial Overview The study tests if training leaders within AAMSM social networks to endorse PrEP can increase its use compared to just giving brief HIV prevention counseling. Networks are randomly chosen for one of these two approaches.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social Network Approach Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will receive brief HIV counseling at baseline visit. Leaders of social networks will be determined using data from participants. These leaders will then be invited to attend a 5-session small-group training that will teach them how to communicate the benefits of PrEP to their social network members. All social network members will be asked about intervention exposure at 6- and 15-month followups.

Group II: Comparison Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive brief HIV counseling at baseline visit.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical College of Wisconsin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

645

Recruited

1,180,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9276301/

Role of social networks and social norms in future PrEP use in ... PrEP awareness was low, but once informed, 36% considered themselves likely to take it in the future. Perceived risk of HIV, perceived barriers to HIV testing, ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6677636/

Role of Social and Sexual Network Factors in PrEP Utilization ... In sum, the present study found that social network factors are more strongly associated with PrEP use than sexual network factors, and that individuals who are ...

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42762-2

A psychosocial network approach studying biomedical HIV ... PrEP use increased from 10 to 31% (p < 0.001), while VLS was reported by 7–10% at each time-point. Uptake of both BmPS was directly related to ...

4. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(24)00539-4/fulltext

The effect of a social network-based intervention to ... This study aimed to examine whether a HIV status-neutral, social network-based intervention could improve testing and linkage to prevention and treatment among ...

5. publichealth.jmir.org publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e69495

An Enhanced Social Network Strategy to Increase the Uptake ... Social network approaches have led to increased HIV testing uptake. Social network interventions that are responsive to individuals' needs among ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10363199/

PrEP and HIV prevention decision-making among social ... We focused specifically on the PrEP and HIV prevention decision-making of people identified as being in the social networks of WEI engaged with community-based ...

7. ysph.yale.edu ysph.yale.edu/enrich/findings/prep/

Social networks and their impact on women's awareness ... Social networks may promote and/or inhibit women's PrEP awareness, which could influence PrEP intentions. Women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) may ...