NCT03125915

Addressing Substance Use Through CVCT

Addressing Substance Use Through Couples Voluntary Counseling and Testing (CVCT)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 140 (actual)
• Sponsor: Hunter College of City University of New York · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The proposed study developed and tested two adjunct components for use in Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) with gay-male couples: a communication skills training video and a substance use agreement module. Phase I of the study involved the creation of intervention materials and Phase II was comprised of a small randomized controlled trial comparing the additive effects of the novel components to CHTC as usual.

Detailed description

Phase I: Utilizing formative qualitative data on the correspondence of sexual agreements, drug use, and sexual risk behavior, the study team created two adjunct intervention components: Communication skills training videos: The team produced a brief (20-minute) communication skills training video. The video includes 4 scenes in which a gay couple is depicted discussing HIV risk, sexual agreements, or drug use. The scene is viewed twice. The first viewing includes common communication errors. The second viewing portrays the use of more effective interpersonal communication and a more adaptive outcome. Substance use agreement module: The team developed a structured activity to assist couples in clarifying their understanding and goals around substance use. The module includes the completion of a calendar detailing recent substance use and structured debriefing questions. Phase II: A randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of novel intervention components will be conducted. The trial involves 70 couples (n = 140 individuals). Half of the couples are randomized to complete the drug calendar (the other half do not). Half of the couples are randomized to view communication skills training videos, the other half do not. The result is four intervention conditions: 1. CHTC as usual 2. CHTC + communication skills training videos 3. CHTC + substance use module 4. CHTC + communication skills training videos + substance use calendar Participants complete a baseline assessment (either online or in person) prior to their intervention session. All intervention sessions are completed with both members of the couple together. Follow-up assessments are completed individually online at 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention.

Conditions

• Sex, Unsafe
• Drug Use

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Communication skills training video	This video includes 4 scenes of gay couples discussing issues related to HIV prevention, testing, sexual agreements, and drug use. Each scene is viewed twice. The first viewing includes common communication errors. The second viewing portrays more skillful interpersonal communication and a more adaptive resolution to the conversation.
BEHAVIORAL	substance use module	This activity involves completion of a calendar detailing partners' substance use in the past month and a structured debriefing activity designed to facilitate the formation of couples' goals and limits around substance use.
BEHAVIORAL	Couples HIV Testing and Counseling	CHTC delivered as per the CDC protocol.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-04-01
• Primary completion: 2018-02-01
• Completion: 2018-02-01
• First posted: 2017-04-24
• Last updated: 2021-04-15
• Results posted: 2020-02-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States