Schnall Rebecca, Duncan Dustin T, Kuhns Lisa M, Janulis Patrick Francis, Almodovar Michael, Wood Olivia R, Xiao Fengdi, Veihman Patrick R, Garofalo Robert
Mary Dickey Lindsay Professor of Disease Prevention and Health PromotionSchool of Nursing,Columbia University, 560 West 168Th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Dec 18;24(1):3450. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20872-4.
Using a theoretically-grounded approach to the epidemiological study of HIV incidence among a national, diverse sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) men (age 17 -29 years), as well as examining HIV incidence through an innovative geospatial lens, is of considerable public health significance. Our overarching objectives are to assemble a U.S.-based national cohort of diverse SGM men: (1) to estimate HIV incidence in SGM men followed every 6 months for up to 24 months, (2) to assess the association of individual and geospatial factors associated with HIV incidence and (3) to determine the relative efficiency and acceptability of three different, discrete study enrollment approaches (including completion of remote HIV testing). The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the study protocol.
The cohort is composed of English- and/or Spanish-speaking SGM men at risk for HIV, age 17-29 years and living in the United States and its territories. We used multiple methods to recruit our sample including social networking apps like GrindrTM. If a participant was eligible for the study, they completed an address intake form so an HIV test could be mailed to their home or chosen address. We assembled three cohorts using different enrollment approaches. Cohort 1 used Zoom video calls with study staff observing participants use of OraQuick test with oral swabs at the baseline visit. Cohort 2 used No Zoom and OraSure oral fluid tests that participants mailed to an external lab. Cohort 3 used No Zoom/self-administration of OraQuick tests and participants uploading test results to an online portal (REDCap).
This study will provide important data on multilevel determinants of HIV incidence among SGM men at the national level, allowing us to examine important differences by local jurisdiction, region and state and to better understand the impact of individual, social and geospatial factors on HIV incidence to help inform future prevention strategies.
采用基于理论的方法，对全国不同性取向和性别认同少数群体（SGM）男性（年龄在17至29岁之间）进行艾滋病毒感染率的流行病学研究，并通过创新的地理空间视角审视艾滋病毒感染率，具有重大的公共卫生意义。我们的总体目标是组建一个以美国为基地的全国性不同SGM男性队列：（1）估计每6个月随访长达24个月的SGM男性中的艾滋病毒感染率；（2）评估与艾滋病毒感染率相关的个体因素和地理空间因素之间的关联；（3）确定三种不同的、离散的研究入组方法（包括完成远程艾滋病毒检测）的相对效率和可接受性。本手稿的目的是描述研究方案。
该队列由年龄在17至29岁之间、生活在美国及其属地、有感染艾滋病毒风险的讲英语和/或西班牙语的SGM男性组成。我们使用多种方法招募样本，包括使用GrindrTM等社交网络应用程序。如果参与者符合研究条件，他们需填写一份地址采集表，以便将艾滋病毒检测试剂盒邮寄到他们家中或选定的地址。我们使用不同的入组方法组建了三个队列。队列1在基线访视时使用Zoom视频通话，研究人员观察参与者使用口腔拭子进行OraQuick检测。队列2不使用Zoom，参与者将OraSure口腔液检测试剂盒邮寄到外部实验室。队列3不使用Zoom，参与者自行进行OraQuick检测，并将检测结果上传到在线平台（REDCap）。
本研究将提供关于全国范围内SGM男性艾滋病毒感染率多层次决定因素的重要数据，使我们能够按地方司法管辖区、地区和州来研究重要差异，并更好地理解个体、社会和地理空间因素对艾滋病毒感染率的影响，以帮助为未来的预防策略提供信息。
