Home-Collected Blood Spots to Increase HIV Test Frequency among Young Black MSM

描述(申请人提供)：艾滋病毒在美国的流行正变得越来越集中在年轻的黑人男男性行为者(YBMSM)。在这一重要风险群体中增加艾滋病毒检测的频率可能会对新感染的发生率产生重大影响，实现更频繁检测的一个有希望的战略是在家中收集干血迹(DBS)以进行集中的艾滋病毒检测。这种方法消除了许多阻碍YBMSM频繁检测艾滋病毒的结构和心理社会障碍，允许通过检测艾滋病毒RNA和抗体来识别早期感染，并使人们能够迅速参与到对任何确诊的人的护理中。这项研究建议的具体目的是：(1)使用调查数据来确定哪些YBMSM最有可能利用DBS进行家庭测试，(2)通过对YBMSM样本的定性访谈来探索这一策略的障碍，以及(3)在试点研究中评估季度家庭DBS收集、集中测试和通过电话或安全网站报告结果的可接受性和可行性。这项拟议的研究将支持该职业发展奖候选人克里斯托弗·赫特博士的长期职业生涯和短期培训目标。他是北卡罗来纳大学传染病系(ID)助理教授 在教堂山(北卡罗来纳州大学)，他正在寻求在面向公共卫生的艾滋病毒研究中实现职业独立，重点是了解影响美国年轻黑人男男性行为者(YBMSM)艾滋病毒传播的结构、生物和行为因素。为了实现这一目标，赫特博士需要职业发展方面的指导，以及健康行为科学方面的具体培训。通过密集的短期课程、研讨会、正式课程和体验式学习，赫特博士将：(1)学习健康行为的理论基础，(2)精通行为评估的定量和定性方法，(3)发展设计和实施行为和行为变化临床研究所需的技能，(4)增进他对艾滋病毒分子诊断学的理解，以及(5)扩展他在负责任的人类受试者研究方面的培训。两名经过公共卫生培训的ID教员Lisa Hightow-Weidman博士和William Miller博士将为候选人提供主要指导，来自北卡罗来纳大学定性研究(Clare Barrington博士)、分子诊断(Susan Fiscus博士)和生物统计学(Mark Weaver博士)以及哥伦比亚大学行为科学(Alex Carbalo-Diguez博士)的专家教员将做出贡献。该研究计划得到了候选人主席的支持，主席将提供完成这一职业发展奖所需的资源和受保护的时间。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The HIV epidemic in the United States is becoming increasingly concentrated among young, Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). Increasing the frequency of HIV tests in this important risk group could make a significant impact on the incidence of new infections, and one promising strategy for enabling more frequent testing is home collection of dried blood spots (DBS) for centralized HIV testing. This approach removes many of the structural and psychosocial barriers keeping YBMSM from testing frequently for HIV, allows for identification of early infections by detection of HIV RNA and antibodies, and enables prompt engagement in care for anyone diagnosed. The specific aims of this research proposal are to: (1) use survey data to determine which YBMSM are most likely to utilize DBS for home testing, (2) explore barriers to this strategy through qualitative interviews with a sample of YBMSM, and (3) assess the acceptability and feasibility of quarterly home DBS collection, centralized testing, and reporting of results by phone or secure website, in a pilot study. The proposed research will support the long-term career and short-term training goals of the candidate for this career development award, Dr. Christopher Hurt. He is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases (ID) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) who is seeking to achieve career independence as an investigator in public health-oriented HIV research, with a focus on understanding the structural, biological, and behavioral factors influencing HIV transmission among young, Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the United States. To accomplish that goal, Dr. Hurt needs mentored guidance in career development and specific training in the science of health behavior. Through intensive short-courses, seminars, formal coursework, and experiential learning, Dr. Hurt will: (1) learn the theoretical underpinnings of health behavior, (2) become proficient in quantitative and qualitative methods for behavioral assessment, (3) develop skills needed to design and conduct clinical studies of behavior and behavioral change, (4) advance his understanding of molecular diagnostics in HIV, and (5) extend his training in the responsible conduct of human subjects research. Two established ID faculty members with public health training, Drs. Lisa Hightow- Weidman and William Miller, will provide primary mentorship for the candidate, with contributions from expert faculty in qualitative research (Dr. Clare Barrington), molecular diagnostics (Dr. Susan Fiscus), and biostatistics (Dr. Mark Weaver) at UNC, and in behavioral science (Dr. Alex Carballo-Dieguez) at Columbia University. The research plan has the support of the candidate's chairman, who will provide the resources and protected time necessary for completion of this career development award.