# 3T-Prevent: Piloting a multi-level, combination intervention strategy to expand HIV and bacterial STI prevention

> **NIH NIH R34** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2022 · $247,399

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In the U.S., incidence rates of HIV and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (BSTIs) are disproportionately
high among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men—referred to herein as sexual minority men
(SMM)—compared to men who have sex with women only. Roughly 10% of HIV incidence is attributable to
increased transmission due to untreated active chlamydia and gonorrhea infections among SMM, and 64% of
syphilis cases occur among SMM. Oklahoma is an Ending the HIV Epidemic priority rural state with above
average yearly cases of chlamydia and ranks in the top 10 for gonorrhea and syphilis infections nationwide.
Moreover, there has been an overall upward trend in HIV incidence among SMM in Oklahoma over the past
five years. An estimated 17.1% of HIV incidence among SMM is likely to be averted with doubling of HIV pre-
exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage, and the expansion of HIV and syphilis testing can aid in treatment as
prevention. Additionally, patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) is a method of BSTI prevention where
patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea are provided medication to give directly to their partners.
Concerns about PDPT have centered around missed opportunities for HIV and syphilis testing, which could be
alleviated by including HIV and syphilis self-testing kits with PDPT. Additional synergy is to pair PrEP with BSTI
diagnoses and PDPT since SMM diagnosed with BSTIs are priority candidates for PrEP. During Aim 1, we will
form a Community Advisory Board comprised of SMM (including racial/ethnic minorities and rural SMM),
healthcare providers, community advocates, and other stakeholders in Oklahoma. Working in collaboration
with this group, we will develop an intervention called 3T-Prevent with iterative refinement based on community
feedback from SMM (n = 20) and key informants (n = 20; clinicians, nurses, clinic managers, and other
stakeholders). Preliminary intervention activities include detailing clinics and providers to support distribution of
HIV and syphilis self-testing kits with PDPT to SMM for investigational purposes only; training and
telementoring providers to deliver theoretically guided counseling sessions to support self-testing, PDPT, and
PrEP use among patients and partners; and optimizing PrEP prescribing/referrals and linkage to HIV care. We
will pilot and evaluate the finalized intervention in three clinics in varied settings of Oklahoma that offer
HIV/BSTI testing services using a hybrid type-1 effectiveness-implementation design via a stepped-wedge
randomized controlled trial to mimic a future statewide implementation strategy. We will concurrently recruit
clinic directors (n = 3) and providers (n = 9) and 108 SMM within the three clinics. RE-AIM (Reach,
Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) evaluation will be assessed using convergent
mixed-method analysis of surveys (clinic directors, providers, and SMM patients), electronic medical records,
an...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10480545
- **Project number:** 1R34MH129208-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Randolph D Hubach
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $247,399
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-15 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10480545

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10480545, 3T-Prevent: Piloting a multi-level, combination intervention strategy to expand HIV and bacterial STI prevention (1R34MH129208-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10480545. Licensed CC0.

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