PrEP Education for HIV Prevention

(PrEPSchool Trial)

Overseen By David Inwards-Breland

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Morehouse School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Age < 18, Non-English, HIV positive, 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?

The trial aims to increase awareness and access to PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV, through peer educators. It focuses on reducing stigma and discrimination while improving knowledge about PrEP among African American college students. Participants will attend educational sessions to bridge gaps in understanding and using PrEP. Eligible participants are English-speaking, HIV-negative students, aged 18-26, enrolled at Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, or Morehouse School of Medicine, and not currently using PrEP. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could enhance community health and awareness.

Do I need 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's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this educational program is safe?

Research shows that programs teaching about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) are generally safe for participants. These programs aim to increase understanding of PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV. The studies focus on education rather than safety in the usual sense because no medications or medical procedures are involved in this educational trial. The main goal is to teach and reduce stigma around using PrEP.

The safety concern is minimal because the trial is purely educational. Participants do not take any medication; they only learn about PrEP. Research has shown that increasing awareness and understanding of PrEP can lead to better health outcomes without any physical risks. This educational program is designed to inform and empower people without posing safety risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the PrEP Awareness and Uptake Educational Program because it targets the social barriers to HIV prevention, such as stigma and lack of knowledge. Unlike standard medical treatments like antiretroviral therapy or the daily PrEP pill, this program focuses on educating African American college students through peer-led sessions. This approach not only aims to increase awareness and reduce discrimination around PrEP use but also empowers participants to make informed decisions about their health. By addressing cultural and social factors, this educational intervention could significantly boost PrEP uptake and effectively prevent HIV in high-risk communities.

What evidence suggests that this educational program is effective for increasing PrEP awareness and uptake?

Research has shown that PrEP, a medication taken before exposure to HIV, can reduce the risk of infection by up to 99% when used correctly. However, despite widespread awareness of PrEP, many people do not use it. Studies have found that educational programs can increase both awareness and use of PrEP. This trial's educational intervention focuses on reducing stigma and improving knowledge about PrEP, particularly among African American college students. By enhancing understanding and accessibility of PrEP, this program aims to play a crucial role in preventing HIV. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kara Garretson

Principal Investigator

Morehouse School of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking, HIV-negative students aged 18-26 at Spellman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, or Morehouse School of Medicine who are not already taking PrEP.

Inclusion Criteria

English speaking

HIV negative

Enrolled in Spellman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, or Morehouse School of Medicine

Exclusion Criteria

Non-English speaking

HIV positive

Not currently enrolled in any of the four colleges/universities

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Educational Intervention

Participants receive peer-educator/navigation intervention to increase PrEP awareness and uptake

12 months

Regular sessions (frequency not specified)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in PrEP awareness, acceptability, and access

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• PrEP Awareness and Uptake Educational Program

Trial Overview

The study tests an educational program delivered by peers to increase awareness and use of Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for preventing HIV among students at selected HBCUs.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Educational Intervention Arm: African American College Students Receiving PrEP Awareness Sessions Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Develop a peer-educator/navigation intervention to help decrease stigma and discrimination and foster knowledge around PrEP use, in the prevention of HIV

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Morehouse School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

22

Recruited

16,300+

Gilead Sciences

Industry Sponsor

Trials

1,150

Recruited

878,000+

Daniel O'Day

Gilead Sciences

Chief Executive Officer since 2019

MBA from Columbia University

Dietmar Berger

Gilead Sciences

Chief Medical Officer

MD and PhD from Albert-Ludwigs University School of Medicine

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11560078/

Awareness and Uptake of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis and ...

Our results show that more than half of the participants were aware of PrEP and PEP, but they rarely sought PrEP and PEP. In total, 61.4% (1600/ ...

2.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.677716/epub

From PrEP Awareness to Uptake

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the form of a daily oral medication is highly effective at preventing HIV and is typically prescribed as part ...

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12506201/

Advancing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP ...

PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 99% when medication schedule is adhered to. However, despite its proven ...

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521000255

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge, ...

Results demonstrated high awareness (85%), with half reporting PrEP education during medical school. In another study of 112 medical students, 50% reported some ...

5.

digitalcommons.fiu.edu

digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1176&context=cnhs-studentprojects

Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake as an HIV Prevention ...

Evidence on HIV prevention suggests that taking PrEP as prescribed has 99% efficacy in HIV prevention (Grove et al., 2021). However, PrEP care ...

6.

aidsvu.org

aidsvu.org/news-updates/aidsvu-releases-2024-prep-use-data-showing-growing-use-across-the-u-s/

AIDSVu Releases 2024 PrEP Use Data Showing Growing ...

“Our data show that as PrEP use increases, new HIV infections decline. But persistent barriers—like limited healthcare access, stigma, lack of ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12256081/

PrEP Awareness & Demand Creation

This paper focuses on consumer factors, how individuals' perceptions of PrEP, especially among those most likely to benefit, influence its uptake.