Stopped: The study was terminated by NIH on March 21, 2025 due to new guidelines.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionally affected by HIV and substance abuse in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. However, as in the general population, identifying and engaging MSM with problematic substance use (PSU) into treatment is a significant challenge, which results in the great majority of MSM with PSU never receiving treatment. The proposed study seeks to develop and pilot an electronic-Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (e-SBI-RT)program tailored for MSM awaiting their HIV test at Nexo Asociacion Civil, our community partners in Buenos Aires. The tablet-based e-SBI will integrate substance use and sexual risk behavior screeners and individually tailored Motivational Interviewing (MI) as the BI. We will also adapt and pilot the implementation of the Young Men's Health Project (from YMHP to MHP) a four-session MI-based intervention that effectively reduced substance use and condomless anal intercourse among substance using MSM. The Specific Aims of this R34 study are to: 1) develop the e-SBI intervention for MSM in an HIV testing context to reduce substance use and HIV risk behavior (Primary); 2) assess the feasibility and acceptability of integrating e-SBI into the HIV testing process at Nexo; and 3) assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing adapted YMHP at Nexo. In Stage 1 (Development) we will develop e-SBI, adapt YMHP into MHP, train MHP counselors, and pilot e-SBI with 50 MSM coming to Nexo for HIV testing. In Stage 2 (RCT Pilot), we will randomize 200 MSM coming to Nexo for HIV testing at a 3:1 ratio (eSBI: Screening Assessments Only-SA) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of e-SBI among MSM coming to Nexo for HIV testing and establish and pilot the RCT process for a future trial. As a secondary aim, we will assess uptake, acceptability, and feasibility of delivering MHP to participants with low or moderate risk substance use and subsequent referrals to substance abuse treatment among participants with high-risk substance use or dependence. Lastly, we will explore preliminary findings on substance use and sexual risk reduction outcomes.
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Recruitment Rate: Percent of MSM testing clients at Nexo who accept entry into the study
Timeframe: 8 months
Retention Rate: percent of participants who complete e-SBI
Timeframe: 6 months
Mean overall acceptability rating of e-SBI from the TFA questionnaire
Timeframe: 6 months