Guaranteed Income for HIV Care

(GI-BOOST Trial)

Overseen By Paul D Wesson, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Active psychosis, No SSN/ITIN, others

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 aims to explore how a guaranteed income (GI) might assist people living with HIV who have faced recent legal issues. It will test whether receiving a lump sum or monthly installments can enhance their HIV care and overall well-being. Participants will be divided into three groups: one receiving a lump sum, another receiving monthly payments, and a third choosing their preferred method. The trial seeks individuals diagnosed with HIV who have recently been in the San Francisco County Jail and are experiencing very low income, such as homelessness. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could improve support systems for people living with HIV.

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. It seems focused on financial support rather than medical treatment changes.

What prior data suggests that this guaranteed income intervention is safe for people living with HIV with criminal legal involvement?

Research shows that guaranteed income programs can improve health, especially for people in difficult situations. Studies in the U.S. and Canada find that these programs often lead to better mental health and overall well-being. Major reports of harm from receiving guaranteed income are absent. However, more information is needed about long-term effects and how it affects specific health issues. While early results are encouraging, further research is necessary to understand all possible outcomes. Participants can feel assured that receiving a guaranteed income is generally considered safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Guaranteed Income approach for HIV care because it aims to address financial instability as a barrier to effective treatment adherence. Unlike traditional HIV treatments that focus on medications like antiretrovirals, this strategy provides financial support directly to individuals, either as a lump sum or in monthly installments. The goal is to alleviate economic stress, potentially leading to improved health outcomes by ensuring that participants can consistently access medical care and maintain their treatment regimens. By tackling the social and economic factors influencing health, this method offers a fresh perspective on enhancing HIV care beyond just medical interventions.

What evidence suggests that this trial's guaranteed income interventions could be effective for improving HIV care outcomes?

Research has shown that providing a guaranteed income through cash transfers can improve mental health, help meet basic needs, and increase job opportunities. One study found that financial support for people with HIV helped them manage the virus better and adhere to their treatment plans. This trial will explore different methods of guaranteed income disbursement, with participants receiving either a lump sum or monthly installments. Although the exact effects on HIV outcomes are still under investigation, early results suggest improvements in treatment adherence. Overall, financial support appears to offer many benefits that can positively affect the health of people living with HIV. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Paul D Wesson, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people living with HIV who have been involved with the criminal legal system. Participants must be willing to receive a guaranteed income either as a lump sum or in monthly installments, complete surveys, and participate in interviews about their experiences.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be living with an HIV diagnosis

Participants must have had a recent incarceration in the San Francisco County Jail within three months of study enrollment

Participants must qualify as very low income (e.g., currently experiencing homelessness or having an income less than 30% of the area median income)

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals without a social security number or individual tax ID number

I have untreated active psychosis.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the Guaranteed Income intervention either as a lump sum or in monthly installments over nine months

9 months

3 surveys throughout study follow-up

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for HIV care outcomes, including linkage to care and viral suppression

1 month

Qualitative Interviews

Participants and system partners are interviewed to assess the experience and acceptability of the intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Guaranteed Income

Trial Overview The study tests if providing guaranteed income helps improve HIV care after jail release. It compares three ways of receiving this money: all at once (lump sum), over nine months, or letting participants choose. The focus is on how well it works and what barriers exist.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Monthly Installments Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receive the guaranteed income intervention split into 9-monthly installments of $750/month

Group II: Lump sum Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receive the full guaranteed income amount ($6,750) as one lump sum payment at the beginning of the study.

Group III: Choice Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants choose which method of Guaranteed Income disbursement they will receive (either lump sum or monthly installments).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07115901

Guaranteed Income to Boost HIV Care Continuity and ... Guaranteed income (GI) through unconditional cash transfers can improve mental health, meet basic needs, and boost employment prospects. However, its effects ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12131609/

The effectiveness of monetary incentives in improving viral ... The financial incentives for HIV patients showed a statistically significant improvement in viral suppression and treatment adherence in the ≥ 1 ...

3. californiaaidsresearch.org californiaaidsresearch.org/funded-research/implementation-science.html

Implementation Science - CHRP Guaranteed income (GI) through unconditional cash transfers can improve mental health, meet basic needs, and boost employment prospects. However, its effects ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214109X24001815

Cost-effectiveness of interventions for HIV/AIDS, malaria ... We conducted meta-regression analyses of all published ICERs in the cost-effectiveness registries for 25 interventions for HIV/AIDS, malaria, syphilis, and ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5341147/

Socioeconomic status and treatment outcomes for ... Few studies have assessed the effect of socioeconomic status on HIV treatment outcomes in settings with universal access to health care.

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40114543/

Guaranteed income and health in the U.S. and Canada Guaranteed income initiatives generally had significant positive impacts on health outcomes, with the largest impact seen among the most vulnerable recipients.

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv-infections-9-2025-0a874

Guaranteed Income for HIV Care (GI-BOOST Trial) HIV care outcomes will be compared against a retrospective cohort of PWH-CLI patients as historical controls.Participants will:* Be randomized to receive GI ...

8. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/epirev/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/epirev/mxaf003/62507924/mxaf003.pdf

Guaranteed income and health in the United States and Canada Data were absent on neighborhood-level health outcomes, chronic and infectious diseases, potential unintended consequences, and long-term ...