Meth & HIV Prevention Research Study
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio are conducting a research study to investigate if a new behavioral therapy can help people reduce drug use, avoid risky sexual behaviors and take their HIV prevention medication (PrEP) as prescribed.
Fast Facts
Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender Individuals Ages 18-34
Recent Methamphetamine Use
Compensation Provided
Conducted in San Antonio, TX
Study Background
The purpose of this research is to test if a new behavioral therapy called Episodic Future Thinking or EFT can help people reduce drug use and risky sexual behaviors while helping them adhere to their HIV prevention medication (PrEP).
People who use drugs, particularly methamphetamine, have a difficult time sticking to PrEP, which increases their risk of getting HIV. This research study will test a program that helps people think about their future goals to see if it makes a difference in improving health and staying on their medication.
The researchers hope to learn whether EFT can help people use less methamphetamine, make safer choices in their sexual behaviors, and take their HIV prevention medicine (PrEP) more regularly. We want to see if this program works better than regular care to improve health and reduce the risk of getting HIV.
We want to find out if this program works better than regular care for improving health behaviors among people who have trouble taking their PrEP.
Study Background
The purpose of this research is to test if a new behavioral therapy called Episodic Future Thinking or EFT can help people reduce drug use and risky sexual behaviors while helping them adhere to their HIV prevention medication (PrEP).
People who use drugs, particularly methamphetamine, have a difficult time sticking to PrEP, which increases their risk of getting HIV. This research study will test a program that helps people think about their future goals to see if it makes a difference in improving health and staying on their medication.
The researchers hope to learn whether EFT can help people use less methamphetamine, make safer choices in their sexual behaviors, and take their HIV prevention medicine (PrEP) more regularly. We want to see if this program works better than regular care to improve health and reduce the risk of getting HIV.
We want to find out if this program works better than regular care for improving health behaviors among people who have trouble taking their PrEP.
Additional Information
You may qualify for a study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals ages 18-34
- Recent methamphetamine use
- Currently taking PrEP but not adhering to the prescribed regimen (e.g., missed one or more doses, taken doses at irregular times)
- Not diagnosed with HIV
- Have had condomless anal sex or STI in the past 3 months
- Own a smartphone
- Speak English
- Not receiving treatment for a substance use disorder
- No plans that would preclude study completion (e.g. surgery, major medical treatments such as chemotherapy, incarceration, travel/moving out of San Antonio, Texas)
If enrolled in this study, participants will undergo the following procedures:
- Baseline Assessments (Study-Specific)
- Behavioral Assessments: Survey questions to collect other relevant information that is specific to the study
- EFT Sessions: You will meet with a counselor to help you identify and imagine future goals like things you want to achieve in the next few weeks, months, and year. The counselor will help you write down these goals and record them as short stories. These stories will be saved on a mobile app for you to use later.
- Using the mobile app: The counselor will also show you how to use the mobile app to listen to or read your future goals each week between visits. If you do not have a smartphone or do not want to download the app on your phone then you will not be able to participate in the study.
- Follow-Up Visits (Month 1, Month 3 and Month 6)
Participants will be compensated up to $260 for their time.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.