HIV Caregiver Research Study
Friends Research Institute is looking for individuals to participate in a clinical research study on caregivers for individuals living with HIV or AIDS.
Fast Facts
Main unpaid caregiver to a person living with HIV/AIDS and identify as African American
18+ Years Old
Compensation Provided
Conducted in Philadelphia, PA
OR
Remotely
Study Background
The purpose of the study is to develop a mobile app for smartphones designed to reduce caregiving stress for African American/Black informal caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS.
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will have the option to use your personal smartphone and receive a $100 stipend or receive a free smartphone and data plan with the app downloaded (if assigned to Arm 1. See below for more details.). You will be asked to use the app daily (Arm 1) or go about your day as normal (Arm 2) for 8 weeks. The app will provide you with information to assist with the following: a) stress assessment, b) stress reduction, c) caregiver activities, and d) positive support. This information will be provided through text, videos, interactive activities, or website links. The app is username and password protected to keep your privacy secure. Your data will not be stored locally on the smartphone. Instead, it is encrypted and directly transferred via the web to a secure, password-protected server accessible only to research staff.
Study Background
The purpose of the study is to develop a mobile app for smartphones designed to reduce caregiving stress for African American/Black informal caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS.
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will have the option to use your personal smartphone and receive a $100 stipend or receive a free smartphone and data plan with the app downloaded (if assigned to Arm 1. See below for more details.). You will be asked to use the app daily (Arm 1) or go about your day as normal (Arm 2) for 8 weeks. The app will provide you with information to assist with the following: a) stress assessment, b) stress reduction, c) caregiver activities, and d) positive support. This information will be provided through text, videos, interactive activities, or website links. The app is username and password protected to keep your privacy secure. Your data will not be stored locally on the smartphone. Instead, it is encrypted and directly transferred via the web to a secure, password-protected server accessible only to research staff.
Additional Information
The purpose of the study is to develop a mobile app for smartphones designed to reduce caregiving stress for African American/Black informal caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 18+
- Identify as Black or African American
- Main unpaid caregiver to a person living with HIV/AIDS
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will have the option to use your personal smartphone and receive a $100 stipend or receive a free smartphone and data plan while enrolled in the study. If you opt for the study -provided phone, you will be allowed to keep the smartphone at the conclusion of your study involvement, but the data plan will only be provided during the length of the intervention.
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of two arms:
Arm 1. You will receive support services through a mobile phone app aimed at reducing caregiver stress. You will have the option to use your own phone and receive a $100 stipend or receive a free phone and a data plan while enrolled in the study. You will be asked to use the app daily for 8-weeks. The app will provide you with information to assist with the following: a) stress assessment, b) stress reduction, c) caregiver activities, and d) positive support. This information will be provided through text, videos, interactive activities, or website links. The app is username and password-protected to keep your privacy secure. Your data will not be stored locally on the smartphone. Instead, it is encrypted and directly transferred via the web to a secure, password-protected server accessible only to research staff.
Arm 2. You will not receive the app, but will still have the option to receive a $100 stipend or free smart phone and data plan. You will also be provided with research staff contact information as well as information about community support services and resources. You will still complete assessments at the specified intervals.
If selected for this study, you can expect the following:
Complete a comprehensive set of assessments, which will take approximately 30-60 minutes, at: the beginning of the study (baseline); and at 4- 8- and 12 weeks post-baseline. Your participation in the study is complete after using the app (Arm 1) for 8 weeks and completing the final surveys at 12 weeks post-baseline (Arms 1 & 2).
Compensation is up to $300.
- You will receive a $100 stipend if you opt to use your own phone instead of a study-provided smartphone and data plan
- You will receive a $50 gift card for completing the questionnaire at the beginning of the study (baseline) and another $50 gift card for completing each questionnaire at 4, 8- and 12-weeks post-baseline for a total of $200.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research studies.