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Wilkinson A, Thabethe S, Salzwedel J, Slack C. The "3 Ps" of EmPowerment, Partnership and Protection - Stakeholder Perceptions of Beneficial Outcomes of Engagement in HIV Prevention Trials. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2024; 19:37-47. [PMID: 38105464 PMCID: PMC10958749 DOI: 10.1177/15562646231221259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Background: Stakeholder engagement is increasingly recognized as a key component of ethical research in leading ethics guidelines. Ethics commentators have also argued that engagement has several beneficial outcomes for the field. Aim: This paper reports on the beneficial outcomes of stakeholder engagement in HIV prevention trials as perceived by stakeholders in the field. Method: We conducted 28 interviews between 2019 and 2021 with interviewees from various stakeholder groups in 12 countries and used thematic analysis to analyze the transcripts. Findings: We found three major themes - namely emPowerment where engagement is perceived to empower stakeholders, Partnerships where engagement is perceived to build equitable relationships and Protections where engagement is perceived to strengthen protections for participants and community stakeholders and to improve science. Conclusions: These findings map closely onto beneficial outcomes envisaged by ethics guidelines, however, the relationship between outcomes seen as beneficial deserves further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Wilkinson
- HIV AIDS Vaccines Ethics Group (HAVEG), School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Siyabonga Thabethe
- HIV AIDS Vaccines Ethics Group (HAVEG), School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Catherine Slack
- HIV AIDS Vaccines Ethics Group (HAVEG), School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Lamptey H, Newcomb B, Bonney EY, Aboagye JO, Puplampu P, Ganu VJ, Ansa G, Oliver-Commey J, Kyei GB. Healthcare Provider Perspectives on HIV Cure Research in Ghana. AIDS Res Treat 2023; 2023:8158439. [PMID: 37292229 PMCID: PMC10247315 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8158439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced mortality and improved life expectancy among HIV patients but does not provide a cure. Patients must remain on lifelong medications and deal with drug resistance and side effects. This underscores the need for HIV cure research. However, participation in HIV cure research has risks without guaranteed benefits. We determined what HIV healthcare providers know about HIV cure research trials, the risks involved, and what kind of cure interventions they are likely to recommend for their patients. Methods We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 39 HIV care providers consisting of 12 physicians, 8 counsellors, 14 nurses, 2 pharmacists, 2 laboratory scientists, and 1 community advocate from three hospitals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded, and thematic analysis was performed independently by two investigators. Results Participants were happy about the success of current treatments and hopeful that an HIV cure will be found in the near future, just as ART was discovered through research. They described cure as total eradication of the virus from the body and inability to test positive for HIV or transmit the virus. In terms of risk tolerance, respondents would recommend to their patients' studies with mild to moderate risks like what patients on antiretroviral therapy experience. Participants were reluctant to recommend treatment interruption to patients as part of a cure study and wished trials could be performed without stopping treatment. Healthcare providers categorically rejected death or permanent disability as an acceptable risk. The possibility of finding a cure that will benefit the individual or future generations was strong motivations for providers to recommend cure trials to their patients, as was transparency and adequate information on proposed trials. Overall, the participants were not actively seeking knowledge on cure research and lacked information on the various cure modalities under investigation. Conclusion While hopeful for an HIV cure, healthcare providers in Ghana expect a cure to be definitive and pose minimal risk to their patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Lamptey
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Newcomb
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Evelyn Y. Bonney
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - James O. Aboagye
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter Puplampu
- Department of Medicine, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Vincent J. Ganu
- Department of Medicine, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gloria Ansa
- Department of Public Health, University of Ghana Hospital, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - George B. Kyei
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Medical and Scientific Research Center, University of Ghana Medical Centre, Accra, Ghana
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Asuquo SE, Tahlil KM, Muessig KE, Conserve DF, Igbokwe MA, Chima KP, Nwanunu EC, Elijah LP, Day S, Rosenberg NE, Ong JJ, Nkengasong S, Tang W, Obiezu‐Umeh C, Nwaozuru U, Merino Y, Gbaja‐Biamila T, Oladele D, Iwelunmor J, Ezechi O, Tucker JD. Youth engagement in HIV prevention intervention research in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25666. [PMID: 33569913 PMCID: PMC7876473 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Youth engagement in HIV research is generally recognized as essential, but often neglected or minimally implemented in practice. Engagement is a process of working collaboratively with diverse groups of people to address common issues. We conducted a scoping review of youth HIV prevention interventions in sub-Saharan Africa to identify and categorize forms and levels of youth engagement across the lifespan of intervention research. METHODS We followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework for organizing a scoping review. We searched seven databases for related articles on identified intervention studies through May 28th 2020. Included studies focused on youth (10 to 24 years old) HIV prevention interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Two reviewers independently examined citations and full manuscripts for inclusion. Data were extracted on study characteristics, location, description of youth engagement and extent of engagement. Youth engagement approaches were categorized based on Hart's ladder as substantial engagement (strong youth decision-making power), moderate engagement (shared decision making with adults), minimal engagement (no youth decision-making power) or no engagement. RESULTS We identified 3149 citations and included 112 studies reporting on 74 unique HIV interventions. Twenty-two interventions were in low-income countries, 49 in middle-income countries, and three were in both. Overall, only nine interventions (12%) had substantial or moderate youth engagement, two-thirds (48, 65%) had minimal youth engagement and 17 interventions (23%) had no youth engagement. We also identified specific engagement strategies (e.g. youth-led research, crowdsourcing) that were feasible in multiple settings and resulted in substantial engagement. CONCLUSIONS We found limited youth engagement in youth HIV prevention intervention studies in sub-Saharan Africa. However, several activities resulted in substantial youth engagement and could be relevant in many low-and-middle-income-country (LMIC) settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Asuquo
- Department of Health BehaviorGillings School of Global Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Kadija M Tahlil
- Department of EpidemiologyGillings School of Global Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Kathryn E Muessig
- Department of Health BehaviorGillings School of Global Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Donaldson F Conserve
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and BehaviorArnold School of Public HealthUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaSCUSA
| | - Mesoma A Igbokwe
- Clinical Sciences DepartmentNigerian Institute of Medical ResearchLagosNigeria
- College of MedicineUniversity of NigeriaNsukkaNigeria
| | - Kelechi P Chima
- Clinical Sciences DepartmentNigerian Institute of Medical ResearchLagosNigeria
- College of MedicineUniversity of NigeriaNsukkaNigeria
| | - Ezienyi C Nwanunu
- Clinical Sciences DepartmentNigerian Institute of Medical ResearchLagosNigeria
- Department of BiochemistryMichael Okpara University of AgricultureUmudikeNigeria
| | - Lana P Elijah
- Clinical Sciences DepartmentNigerian Institute of Medical ResearchLagosNigeria
- College of MedicineLagos State UniversityLagosNigeria
| | - Suzanne Day
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious DiseasesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Nora E Rosenberg
- Department of Health BehaviorGillings School of Global Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
- University of North Carolina Project MalawiLilongweMalawi
| | - Jason J Ong
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical DiseasesLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Susan Nkengasong
- Department of Clinical ResearchLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Weiming Tang
- Dermatology HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Chisom Obiezu‐Umeh
- Department of Behavioral Science and Health EducationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMOUSA
| | - Ucheoma Nwaozuru
- Department of Behavioral Science and Health EducationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMOUSA
| | - Yesenia Merino
- Gillings School of Global Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | | | - David Oladele
- Clinical Sciences DepartmentNigerian Institute of Medical ResearchLagosNigeria
| | - Juliet Iwelunmor
- Department of Behavioral Science and Health EducationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMOUSA
| | - Oliver Ezechi
- Clinical Sciences DepartmentNigerian Institute of Medical ResearchLagosNigeria
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical DiseasesLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Department of MedicineUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
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Liu C, Meyers K. Beyond clinical trials: social outcomes of structured stakeholder engagement in biomedical HIV prevention trials in China. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2020; 22:1365-1381. [PMID: 31702447 PMCID: PMC7205565 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2019.1683230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Stakeholder engagement is increasingly recognised and institutionalised as an essential component of HIV-related biomedical research. However, we know little about stakeholder engagement's social outcomes, such as its influence on the community it engages with, in authoritarian regimes and beyond high-income countries. This study evaluates a multi-site structured stakeholder engagement programme conducted in parallel with two HIV prevention studies among men who have sex with men in China. We conducted a one-month ethnographic study and 41 semi-structured interviews with participants of a structured stakeholder engagement programme in six Chinese cities. We found that the structured stakeholder engagement programme offered community stakeholders additional and flexible funding, networking opportunities, increased clinical research literacy, and strengthened their connections with the community. However, the structured stakeholder programme generated unintended consequences in some cases. It caused community stakeholders to expend their social capital, introduced moral conflicts and created tension between stakeholders' 'community representative' and 'research assistant' identities. Our findings suggest that despite these unintended consequences, structured stakeholder engagement could effectively mitigate negative outcomes generated by such engagement if such programmes are more sensitive and responsive to the broader socio-political structure in which trials are embedded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuncheng Liu
- Department of Sociology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kathrine Meyers
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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Brown BJ, Sugarman J. Why ethics guidance needs to be updated for contemporary HIV prevention research. J Int AIDS Soc 2020; 23:e25500. [PMID: 32406990 PMCID: PMC7224307 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon J Brown
- Center for Healthy CommunitiesSchool of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Jeremy Sugarman
- Berman Institute of BioethicsJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMDUSA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Partnerships between academia and the community led to historic advances in HIV and paved the way for ongoing community engagement in research. Three decades later, we review the state of community engagement in HIV research, discuss best practices as supported by literature, explore innovations, and identify ongoing gaps in knowledge. RECENT FINDINGS The community of people living with and at risk for HIV remains actively involved in the performance of HIV research. However, the extent of participation is highly variable despite long standing and established principles and guidelines of good participatory practices (GPP) and community-based participatory research (CBPR). Current literature reveals that known barriers to successful community engagement continue to exist such as power differences, and poor scientific or cultural competency literacy. Several high-quality studies share their experiences overcoming these barriers and demonstrate the potential of CBPR through reporting of qualitative and quantitative outcomes. SUMMARY Greater time and attention should be placed on the development of community engagement in HIV research. A large body of literature, including innovative cross-cutting approaches, exists to guide and inform best practices and mitigate common barriers. However, we recognize that true growth and expansion of CBPR within HIV and in other fields will require a greater breadth of research reporting qualitative and quantitative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maile Y Karris
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Karine Dubé
- University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Leadership Program, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alison A Moore
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
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Dada S, McKay G, Mateus A, Lees S. Lessons learned from engaging communities for Ebola vaccine trials in Sierra Leone: reciprocity, relatability, relationships and respect (the four R's). BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1665. [PMID: 31829223 PMCID: PMC6907283 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7978-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Building trust and engaging the community are important for biomedical trials. This was core to the set up and delivery of the EBOVAC-Salone and PREVAC Ebola vaccine trials in Sierra Leone during and following the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic. Local community liaison teams (CLT) engaged with the community through public meetings, radio chat shows, and other activities, while a social science team (SST) assessed community members' and participants' perceptions and regularly updated the clinical team to adapt procedures to improve the acceptability and compliance of the trial. The objective of this study was to examine the community engagement (CE) program in these trials and to identify potential barriers and facilitators. METHODS Fifteen CLT and SST members participated in in-depth interviews and 23 community members attended three focus groups to discuss the Ebola vaccine trials and their experiences and perspectives of the CE activities. RESULTS A key aim of the CE program was to build trust between the community and the trial. Four main principles (the "four R's") evolved from the discussions with team members and the community that influenced this trust: reciprocity, relatability, relationships and respect. The CLT and SST ensured reciprocal communication between the trial team and the community. The CLT delivered key messages from the trial, whilst the SST completed ethnographic research in the field to uncover rumors and perceptions of the trial in the community. These ethnographic findings were shared with the CLT and addressed in targeted messaging to the community. Both the CLT and SST approached the communities in an egalitarian manner, by dressing modestly, speaking local dialects, and using relatable examples. Appreciation and understanding of the importance of interpersonal relationships and respect for the people, their customs, and traditions also played a large role in the CE program. CONCLUSION These findings provide an in-depth understanding of how interdisciplinary community liaison and social science teams can work with a clinical team to strengthen trust. The four R's suggest the ways in which trust relations are central to CE and confidence in vaccine trials, and could offer an approach to CE in vaccine trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Dada
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
- The Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU UK
| | - Gillian McKay
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Ana Mateus
- The Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU UK
| | - Shelley Lees
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
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MacQueen KM, Auerbach JD. It is not just about "the trial": the critical role of effective engagement and participatory practices for moving the HIV research field forward. J Int AIDS Soc 2018; 21 Suppl 7:e25179. [PMID: 30334608 PMCID: PMC6193314 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith D Auerbach
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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