HIV Prevention Research Study
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio are conducting a local research study to investigate if a new behavioral therapy can help people avoid risky sexual behaviors.
Fast Facts
Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender Individuals Ages 18-34
Negative HIV Status
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 risky sexual behaviors while helping them adhere to their HIV prevention medication (PrEP).
People who have difficulty sticking to PrEP are at higher risk of getting HIV. This research study will test a program designed to help participants think about their future goals to see if it can improve their health and support them in staying on their medication.
The researchers hope to learn whether Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) can help people make safer sexual choices and take their HIV prevention medication (PrEP) more regularly. The goal is to determine whether this program is more effective than standard care in improving health outcomes and reducing the risk of HIV.
We want to find out if this approach works better than regular care in supporting healthy behaviors among people who struggle with taking their PrEP consistently.
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 risky sexual behaviors while helping them adhere to their HIV prevention medication (PrEP).
People who have difficulty sticking to PrEP are at higher risk of getting HIV. This research study will test a program designed to help participants think about their future goals to see if it can improve their health and support them in staying on their medication.
The researchers hope to learn whether Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) can help people make safer sexual choices and take their HIV prevention medication (PrEP) more regularly. The goal is to determine whether this program is more effective than standard care in improving health outcomes and reducing the risk of HIV.
We want to find out if this approach works better than regular care in supporting healthy behaviors among people who struggle with taking their PrEP consistently.
Additional Information
You may qualify for a study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals ages 18-34
- Not diagnosed with HIV
- Residing in, or willing to travel to, the Greater San Antonio Area
- 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.