A Randomized Trial of a Brief Behavioral Intervention for PrEP Uptake Among Men Who Have Sex With Men at Increased Risk for HIV Infection

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel, brief 2-session behavioral intervention to promote HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM) who are behaviorally at risk for HIV.

Setting: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic to compare a brief motivational interviewing intervention with passive referral only for PrEP uptake.

Methods: MSM who scored as "high risk" on the HIV Incidence Risk index for MSM was offered a brief (15-20 minutes) motivational interviewing-based intervention at the time of STI testing to address barriers to PrEP uptake, including low risk perception, stigma, side effects, and cost. The initial session was followed by a brief, telephone booster session that lasted <10 minutes. The primary outcome was attending a clinical PrEP appointment and accepting a prescription for PrEP.

Results: Participants were recruited from an urban STI clinic in the United States. A total of 86 MSM who were behaviorally at risk for HIV were enrolled in the study (N = 43 intervention; N = 43 treatment-as-usual, "TAU"). Participants randomized to the intervention were significantly more likely to attend a clinical appointment and accept a prescription for PrEP, compared with treatment-as-usual (52.3% versus 27.9%, respectively; odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.5 to 8.9; P = 0.005).

Conclusions: A brief behavioral intervention focused on the initial steps in the PrEP care cascade demonstrated preliminary efficacy in promoting uptake among MSM who are behaviorally at risk for HIV.