TechStep: Technology-based Stepped Care to Stem Transgender Adolescent Risk Transmission

Summary

TechStep is a three-arm, technology-based randomized controlled trial (RCT), with a stepped care approach, among high-risk HIV-negative transgender feminine, transgender masculine, and gender non-conforming youth and young adults for reducing sexual risk behaviors and increasing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake. Participants are randomized into one of three conditions for a 6-month intervention: Group 1: culturally relevant theory-based text messages (Text+Step); or, Group 2: culturally relevant mobile-enhanced website (WebApp+Step); or, Group 3: informational website control condition with no theoretically based text messages or WebApp.

Conditions

• HIV

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Text Messaging (Text+Step)

Participants receive three culturally competent, theory-based pre-written messages per day sent on a predetermined schedule. Participants who still exhibit sexual risk and do not uptake and/or adhere to PrEP at the 3-month assessment may also receive eCoaching for up to 12 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

WebApp (App+Step)

Participants receive access to a culturally competent password-protected web-based application with transgender-specific resources, support, and health information. Participants who still exhibit sexual risk and do not uptake and/or adhere to PrEP at the 3-month assessment may also receive eCoaching for up to 12 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Information/No Step

Participants in the Information/No Step intervention will receive access to a static website with information about trans health, HIV/STI information and local resources tailored for transgender persons.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• San Diego State University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of North Carolina

  collaborator OTHER

• Emory University

  collaborator OTHER

• Baylor College of Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  collaborator OTHER

• The Fenway Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• Hunter College of City University of New York

  collaborator OTHER

• Children's Hospital Los Angeles

  collaborator OTHER

• Friends Research Institute, Inc.

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lisa Hightow-Wideman, MD, MPH · University of North Carolina

• Travis Sanchez, DVM, MPH · Emory University

• Cathy J Reback, PhD · Friends Research Institute, Inc.

• Keith J Horvath, PhD · San Diego State University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

15 Years

Max Age

24 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-10-18

Primary Completion

2022-05-31

Completion

2022-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations