Nurse-Led PrEP Initiation Among Incarcerated Individuals

Summary

PrEP is a medication that can help prevent the spread of HIV, but many who might benefit from PrEP do not take it. Individuals experiencing incarceration are interested in starting PrEP while incarcerated, but there are challenges that make it difficult for them to start this medication when they return to the community. This study will test to see if a nurse-led, same-day PrEP start program can help individuals experiencing incarceration start and stay on PrEP. To do this, N = 90 PrEP-eligible patients during their incarceration will test the nurse-led program. Everyone will receive access to a nurse-led behavioral intervention during incarceration and information about PrEP services available in the community. Then, N = 60 participants will receive patient navigation support to help them link with PrEP care in the community and N = 30 participants will receive a list of community resources. Research interviews will be conducted with participants while they are incarcerated and 1, 3, and 6 months after they re-enter the community. Participants are offered compensation for each of the research interviews.

Conditions

• HIV Prevention Program
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Nurse-Led Intervention

All participants will receive the nurse-led intervention. The study nurse will meet with participants twice during incarceration and deliver behavioral sessions focused on motivational interviewing and psychoeducation related to PrEP. The aim of these sessions is to enhance motivation to start PrEP following community re-entry. Anyone expressing interest in starting PrEP will be provided information about how to access PrEP care in the community with our study nurse and other community-based providers. The study nurse will deliver same-day PrEP care services at a outpatient clinic. In this setting, the nurse will perform all of the necessary activities required to initiate a patient on same-day PrEP. These activities include, HIV testing and any other remaining recommended testing that was not performed while the participant was at RIDOC and placing an order for a PrEP prescription. All clinical activities will be supervised by a physician or a nurse-practitioner.

BEHAVIORAL

Patient Navigation Intervention

Participants randomly assigned to the experimental arm will receive a warm handoff from the study nurse to the patient navigator (PN), in which they will be introduced by the nurse to the PN prior to discharge. NAV participants will receive 6 monthly phone calls, or alternate means of contact (texts, emails, HIPAA compliant videoconferencing) if preferred by participant, from the PN and access to navigation services for 6 months. Navigation services include: assistance with health insurance issues, facilitating transfer of medical records, scheduling PrEP care appointments, and facilitating linkage to substance use treatment and mental health services as appropriate. In addition, the PN will remind participants of PrEP care appointments, arrange transportation to appointments as needed, and attend the first PrEP care appointment if desired by participant. The PN can also provide information regarding other community-based resources.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard-of-care (SoC)

SOC will consist of a brochure regarding how to receive PrEP care in the community after discharge from RIDOC, which SOC participants will receive from the study nurse prior to discharge.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rhode Island Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Susan Ramsey, PhD · Rhode Island Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-01

Primary Completion

2027-06-30

Completion

2028-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations