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

描述（由申请人提供）：在美国，艾滋病毒的流行越来越集中在年轻的黑人男同性恋者（YBMSM）中。增加这一重要风险群体的艾滋病毒检测频率可能会对新感染的发生率产生重大影响，一种有希望提高检测频率的策略是在家中收集干血点（DBS）进行集中艾滋病毒检测。这种方法消除了许多阻碍YBMSM频繁进行艾滋病毒检测的结构和社会心理障碍，允许通过检测艾滋病毒RNA和抗体来识别早期感染，并使任何被诊断的人能够及时参与护理。本研究计划的具体目的是：(1)使用调查数据来确定哪些YBMSM最有可能使用DBS进行家庭测试，(2)通过对样本的YBMSM进行定性访谈来探索这种策略的障碍，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。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和短期培训目标。他是北卡罗莱纳大学传染病部（ID）的助理教授

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.