Limited Interaction Targeted Epidemiology (LITE-2)
About Study
The purpose of this research study is to assess in-home HIV testing and linkage to care among adolescents and young adults.
This remote study includes baseline assessment and follow up at 6, 12, 18, and 24-month post baseline. The study is led by Columbia University School of Nursing and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The procedures in this study are to complete surveys and at-home HIV tests every six months after enrollment.
Participants will receive up to $365 after finishing the 24-month/2-year study. They will be given $45 at the baseline visit, $55 at 6-month visit, $65 at 12-month visit, $75 at 18-month visit, and $85 at 24-month visit. If asked to complete the Asanté HIV-1 Rapid Recency Assay test, participants will be given $40 for completing this test. Compensation for each visit will be sent via Amazon or similar gift codes after the visit is completed.
For Participants
- A total of 5,000 YMSM, trans-male, and non-binary individuals of any birth sex will be recruited online. To participate in the study, participants must:
- be between 17-29 years of age;
- identify gender as male, trans male, or non-binary of any birth sex;
- understand and read English and/or Spanish;
- live within U.S. and its territories;
- self-report anal sex with someone who has a penis in the past 12 months;
- be HIV-negative, status unknown, or diagnosed HIV- positive in the past 12 months (defined as self-reporting receiving a first HIV positive test result in the past 12 months)
- Link for the screener
- Resources detailing participant profile:
Risks
There may be risks or discomforts if you take part in this study. These include feeling uncomfortable with the prevention information provided to you or feeling discomfort completing some questions in the survey. You might feel emotionally upset or distressed by your HIV testing results. Upon enrollment, you will receive information on whom to contact should any concerns arise about your mental health throughout the study.
Benefits
Study participants may benefit from reflecting on sexual practices, discussing sexual-risk behavior, and by accessing in-home HIV tests.
Alternative Procedures
The alternative is to not participate and obtain HIV testing through other means such as obtaining an at-home HIV test over the counter. You are free to refuse to participate or to withdraw from this research at any time.
Confidentiality
A risk of taking part in this study is the possibility of a loss of confidentiality. Loss of confidentiality means having your personal information shared with someone who is not on the study team and was not supposed to see or know about your information. The study team plans to protect your confidentiality. Their plans for keeping your information private are described in the Confidentiality section of this consent form.
Voluntary Participation
You are free to refuse to participate or to withdraw from this research at any time.
For Researchers
- The purpose of this study is to conduct a rigorous and innovative large national study to collect epidemiological HIV incidence data. We will use innovative electronic methods to recruit a large racially diverse sample (N=5000) of high-risk YMSM, trans-male, and non-binary individuals of any birth sex (17-29 years) at high risk of HIV acquisition and examine geospatial factors (e.g., neighborhood poverty, crime rate, proximity to healthcare services) and micro-epidemic areas (“hot spots” for HIV) to understand differences in HIV risk behavior, incidence, and intervention effects across geographic areas in the US and its territories.
- Study duration: 2 years.