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Pre-Exposure ProphylaxisNCT06576648

Thailand HIV and Stigma Reduction Study

A study testing Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC), Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH) and Standard PrEP Counseling in people with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester at 3 sites in Thailand.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This project will develop a multi-component, technology-delivered intervention designed to reduce HIV and intersectional stigma and improve the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among HIV-negative Thai vulnerable emerging adults (18-29 years). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 29 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
What is being tested?
Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC), Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH) and Standard PrEP Counseling
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
154 participants
Where
3 sitesThailand
Study dates
20 Feb 2025to 14 Aug 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 29 years
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Ages between 18 and 29 years
  • Male sex at birth
  • Self-identifies as women, transgender women or culturally identifies with the female spectrum
  • Laboratory-confirmed HIV-negative status
  • Self-reported recent history of condomless sex
  • Able to understand, read and speak Thai
  • Either not started PrEP or currently on PrEP but not adherent (taking ≤3 pills/week) in the past month.

Who cannot join

  • Have a serious cognitive or psychiatric problem compromising ability to provide informed consent
  • Have active suicidal ideation or major mental illness at the time of interview (these patients will be referred for treatment)
  • Laboratory or clinical findings that would preclude PrEP initiation (e.g., decreased creatinine clearance)
  • Currently enrolled in another HIV intervention study.
  • Healthcare providers Inclusion criteria
  • Age 18 or above
Show all 20Show fewer
  • Has provided HIV prevention or treatment services for TGW for at least one year Exclusion criteria
  • None
  • Aim 2 (Pilot RCT) Transgender women Inclusion criteria
  • Ages between 18 and 29 years
  • Male sex at birth
  • Self-identifies as women, transgender women or culturally identifies with the female spectrum
  • Laboratory-confirmed HIV-negative status
  • Self-reported recent history of condomless sex
  • Able to understand, read and speak Thai
  • Either not started PrEP or currently on PrEP but not adherent (taking ≤3 pills/week) in the past month.
  • Have a serious cognitive or psychiatric problem compromising ability to provide informed consent
  • Have active suicidal ideation or major mental illness at the time of interview (these patients will be referred for treatment)
  • Laboratory or clinical findings that would preclude PrEP initiation (e.g., decreased creatinine clearance)
  • Currently enrolled in another HIV intervention study.

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Thailand3 sites, 3 recruiting
  • Institute of HIV Research and Innovation

    Bangkok

    Nittaya Phanuphak, 6621605371, nittaya.p@ihri.org

    Nittaya Phanuphak

    Recruiting
  • Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand

    Bangkok

    Phubet Panpet, phubet.p@rsat.info

    Recruiting
  • SWING Foundation

    Bangkok

    Surang Janyam, 6602632950, director.swingfoundation@gmail.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in Thailand

About this study

Official title: Optimizing Mobile Interventions to Overcome Stigma and Promote HIV Prevention

This project will develop a multi-component, technology-delivered intervention designed to reduce HIV and intersectional stigma and improve the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among HIV-negative Thai vulnerable emerging adults (18-29 years).

Being tested
Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC), Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH), Standard PrEP Counseling
Keywords
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, HIV Prevention, mHealth, Stigma
Medical subject headings
Social Stigma

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC)Behavioural

    mHC is a four-session, 20-minute, motivational interviewing-based intervention, which will be delivered on the CIAS platform. It will be tailored to participants' responses given during the interaction in the intervention. In the first two sessions, the (virtual) counselor will motivate participants to overcome stigma and utilize HIV prevention services by using tailored motivational interviewing strategies, develop an individualized change goal based on their readiness, and provide cognitive behavioral strategies. In the last two sessions, the counselor will review the change plan, monitor progress, and provide support for sustained behavioral change. The sessions will occur within three months after baseline.

  • Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH)Behavioural

    FRESH content includes six 10-15 minute sessions with interactive, culturally sensitive multimedia modules, which will be delivered on the CIAS platform. The content will aim to improve self-efficacy, reduce intersectional stigmas and promote HIV preventative behaviors. The sessions will occur within three months after baseline.

  • Standard PrEP CounselingBehavioural

    All participants will receive one-on-one, face to face counseling from focusing on sexual and behavioral risk assessment for HIV/STIs, risk reduction, and HIV prevention. For those not on PrEP, the sessions will focus on risk perception, awareness of PrEP, and facilitators and barriers to PrEP access. For those on PrEP, the sessions will focus on adherence. The counseling will be provided at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

Study groups in NCT06576648
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Standard PrEP counseling, mHC, and FRESH contentExperimentalParticipants in this arm will receive standard PrEP counseling, followed by four mHC sessions and six FRESH sessions to reduce stigma and increase utilization of HIV prevention services.
Receives: Behavioral: Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC); Behavioral: Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH); Behavioral: Standard PrEP Counseling
Standard PrEP counseling and mHCExperimentalParticipants in this arm will receive standard PrEP counseling, followed by four mHC sessions to reduce stigma and increase utilization of HIV prevention services.
Receives: Behavioral: Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC); Behavioral: Standard PrEP Counseling
Standard PrEP counseling and FRESH contentExperimentalParticipants in this arm will receive standard PrEP counseling, followed by six FRESH sessions to reduce stigma and increase utilization of HIV prevention services.
Receives: Behavioral: Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH); Behavioral: Standard PrEP Counseling
Standard PrEP counselingExperimentalParticipants in this arm will receive the standard PrEP counseling.
Receives: Behavioral: Standard PrEP Counseling

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Intervention Acceptability: System Usability Score (SUS)

    The SUS is a 10-item, 5-point Likert scale for evaluating subjective usability. Each item is scored from 1 to 5, with the calculation involving either subtracting 1 from the user response or the user response from 5 depending on the item. The scores are then summed and multiplied by 2.5 to obtain a total score ranging from 0 to 100. A score above 80 indicates that the intervention is acceptable.

    Measured: Month 3, Month 6

  2. Intervention Acceptability: Exit Interview

    Participants will be asked about their experiences using mHC and FRESH content and potential improvements.

    Measured: Month 3

  3. Intervention Feasibility: Participant retention

    Participant retention rate of over 85% at 6-month follow-up will be the minimum criterion for feasibility.

    Measured: Baseline through Month 6

  4. Intervention Feasibility: Number of FRESH sessions viewed

    Intervention feasibility will be evaluated by the total number of FRESH sessions viewed.

    Measured: Baseline through Month 6

  5. Intervention Feasibility: Number of mHC sessions completed

    Intervention feasibility will be evaluated by the number of completed intervention sessions.

    Measured: Baseline through Month 6

  6. PrEP Uptake: Self-report

    PrEP uptake will be assessed using a self-report measure and confirmed via chart review and pharmacy records.

    Measured: Month 3, Month 6

  7. PrEP Adherence: Visual analog scale

    PrEP adherence will be assessed through the Young Adult Adherence Interview, which contains a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100. Higher percentages on the VAS indicate greater adherence to ART.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  8. PrEP Adherence: Self-Reported Adherence

    PrEP adherence will be evaluated through self-reported adherence over the past four weeks. Participants will rate their adherence on a scale ranging from 0 to 100%, with higher percentages indicating better adherence to PrEP. The result will be triangulated with DBS reports.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  9. PrEP Adherence: DBS testing

    PrEP adherence will be evaluated by tenofovir concentrations in dried blood spots (DBS). The result will be triangulated with self-reports.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  10. HIV testing uptake: Self-report

    HIV testing uptake will be assessed via self-report and confirmed through chart review.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  11. Intersectional stigma

    Intersectional stigma will be assessed using the Intersectional Discrimination Index, which includes three subsets: anticipated, day-to-day, and major discrimination. The anticipated and day-to-day discrimination measures each consist of 9 items, while the major discrimination measure includes 13 items. The anticipated discrimination score is calculated as a mean ranging from 0 to 4. The day-to-day discrimination score is based on frequency and can range from 0-9 (lifetime) or 0-18 (past-year). The major discrimination score is based on frequency and can range from 0-26 (lifetime) or 0-13 (past-year). For all three measures, higher scores indicate a greater level of anticipated discrimination or experienced discrimination.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  12. Internalized stigma

    Internalized stigma will be evaluated using the Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale, a 6-item scale. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater internalized stigma.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  13. Perceived stigma

    Perceived stigma will be evaluated using a 13-item, 4-point Likert scale, with a maximum score of 52. Higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived stigma.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  14. Anticipated stigma

    Anticipated stigma will be evaluated from three different sources (friends and family, neighbors, and others in the community, and healthcare workers) using a 9-item, 5-Likert scale. Scores can reach up to 45, with higher scores indicating a greater expectation of experiencing stigma in the future.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  15. Enacted stigma

    Enacted stigma will be evaluated with an 8-item, 4-point Likert scale enacted stigma scale. The total score can reach up to 32, with higher scores indicating having more stigma experiences.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  16. PrEP stigma

    PrEP stigma will be evaluated with a 10-item, 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived stigma surrounding PrEP.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

Secondary outcomes (16)
  1. Empowerment

    Empowerment will be assessed using the Healthcare Empowerment Inventory. It's an 8-item, 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 8 to 40. Higher scores indicate a greater sense of empowerment in her health care.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  2. Information: HIV Knowledge

    HIV transmission risk awareness will be assessed through an 18-item HIV Knowledge Questionnaire. The total scores can range from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating a higher level of HIV knowledge.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  3. Information: PrEP Knowledge

    PrEP knowledge will be assessed through a 13-item PrEP Knowledge Scale. The total score can range from 0 to 13, with higher scores indicating a higher level of PrEP knowledge.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  4. Motivation: Rollnick's Readiness Ruler

    Motivation will be evaluated using the 5-item Rollnick's Readiness Ruler. Each item ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating a greater readiness for change in HIV prevention and risk behaviors.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  5. Motivation: Decisional Balance for Problem Behavior

    Motivation will be assessed using the Decisional Balance for Problem Behavior scale. This 36-item, 5-point Likert scale evaluates the perceived pros and cons of using PrEP.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  6. Behavioral Skills

    Behavioral skills will be assessed using an adapted version of the Self-Efficacy for Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Questionnaire. This 8-item, 5-point Likert scale measures confidence levels in HIV prevention behaviors, including condom use and adherence to the PrEP schedule. Higher scores indicate a greater confidence in health promotion and HIV prevention.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  7. HIV

    Fourth-generation HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody combi testing will be used to detect HIV infection.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  8. STI

    Treponemal test with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) will be used for syphilis, while urine, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs will be used for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

    Measured: Baseline and Month 6

  9. Sexual Risk

    Sexual risk will be assessed using a Timeline Followback interview via CASI for any risky sexual behavior over the past 30 days.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  10. Adaptive coping

    Adaptive coping will be assessed by the Brief Resilient Coping Scale, a four-item, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater resilient coping.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  11. Resilience

    Resilience will be assessed by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. It is a 10-item, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, with scores ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate a greater ability to cope with challenges.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  12. Substance use: Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)

    Substance use will be assessed with ASSIST, an 8-item questionnaire that measures the use of ten substances, including alcohol, smoking, cannabis, and other drugs. Each item is scored from 0 to 12, resulting in a risk score for each ranging from 0 to 31 for tobacco and 0 to 39 for alcohol and other drugs. Higher scores indicate a higher risk of substance use disorder.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  13. Substance use: Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Text (AUDIT-C)

    Substance use, specifically alcohol use disorder, will be assessed by using AUDIT-C. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no alcohol consumption and 4 indicating more hazardous drinking habits. The total score can range up to 12, with higher scores suggesting greater risks of hazardous alcohol consumption.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  14. Mental health

    Mental health will be evaluated using the Thai General Health Questionnaire. The questionnaire has 12 4-point Likert scale items that assess psychological distress, including depression and anxiety. Scores range up to 48, with higher scores indicating a higher level of psychological distress.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  15. Perceived HIV risk

    Perceived HIV risk will be assessed using the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale (8 item, 4-point Likert scale). The score ranges up to 40-, with higher scores indicating a high level of perception in HIV risk.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

  16. Social support

    Social support will be assessed using the Social Provision Scale (13-item, 5-point Likert scale). The survey assesses the availability of five forms of social supportsd: attachment, guidance, social integration, reliable alliance, and reassurance of worth. Scores range from 13 to 65, with higher scores indicating receiving a higher level of social support.

    Measured: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Aug 2024
  2. Study start20 Feb 2025
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion14 Aug 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
154 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06576648
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00001982
Other IDs
R34MH134682-01A1
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
26 Aug 2024
Last updated
31 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All IPD collected during the trial, after deidentification.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Mobile Healthy Choices (mHC), Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH) and Standard PrEP Counseling in people with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester at 3 sites in Thailand.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 20 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in Thailand. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Deogwoon Kim, PhD (586-703-4899, Deogwoon.Kim13@umassmed.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Intervention Acceptability: System Usability Score (SUS) (time frame: Month 3, Month 6). The study lists 16 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Aug 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.

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