# Promoting PrEP Adherence for Men Who Have Sex with Men of Color: More Options, Less Barriers

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2022 · $1,038,418

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) of color continue to experience disproportionate rates of HIV
infection compared to other groups in the United States (US). Despite the availability of highly effective daily
oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), uptake and adherence to PrEP among YMSM remains low. Data
support that YMSM show interest in exploring different dosing and delivery strategies which may translate into
greater uptake of PrEP, particularly among those have not been successful adhering to a daily regimen.
Evidence-based provider and patient education and support tools (EBT) are available but are not being
routinely used in clinical settings to increase PrEP screening, counseling, initiation, adherence, and
persistence by YMSM. To date, there has been a lack of research on the impact that existing EBT have on
PrEP provision, or how tailoring these materials to meet the needs of providers and YMSM from diverse
backgrounds could enhance their effects. Further, available EBT do not acknowledge or incorporate
information about a growing arsenal of prevention products nor are they maximizing opportunities to engage in
a shared decision-making (SDM) process about these products. Our interdisciplinary team of experts proposes
to adapt and enhance existing EBT to facilitate PrEP SDM, train providers on the use of the EBT and evaluate
the impact within a longitudinal cohort of racially and geographically diverse YMSM. Our application relies upon
the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) model as the implementation framework
for studying the integration of these tools into real-world clinical settings. In aim 1, we will conduct an iterative
formative assessment with providers and patients to inform adaptation and enhancement of existing patient
and provider PrEP EBT. Findings will inform the adaptation and refinement of existing EBT which will be
iteratively reviewed with providers and YMSM through Consultative Workshops prior to implementation. In aim
2, we will train providers on use of newly developed EBT grounded in the Tailored Motivational Interviewing
(TMI) training model, a scalable, centralized, culturally and developmentally tailored model that has
demonstrated impacts on autonomy supportive and stigma reducing communication. Providers at diverse
clinical sites will participate in a virtual training workshop, followed by competency-based eCoaching. Training
will focus on implementation of the EBT to ensure increases in their ability to engage in PrEP screening,
counseling, initiation, and provide support for adherence and persistence. In aim 3, we will test the newly
developed/refined EBT through the conduct of a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation pragmatic clinical
trial (N=540 YMSM ages 18 to 39) to assess effectiveness and implementation outcomes. A fully-developed
and validated mobile app-based platform supports ongoing participant engagement and monitoring. Our study
builds o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10488045
- **Project number:** 5U01PS005236-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa B Hightow-Weidman
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,038,418
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10488045

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10488045, Promoting PrEP Adherence for Men Who Have Sex with Men of Color: More Options, Less Barriers (5U01PS005236-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10488045. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*