Willingness to volunteer in future preventive HIV vaccine trials: issues and perspectives from three U.S. communities.
This study examined perceived risks, benefits, and desired information related to willingness to volunteer in preventive HIV vaccine trials.


METHODS
Purposive sampling was used to select 90 participants among injecting drug users (Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.); gay men (San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.); and black Americans (Durham, NC, U.S.A.).


METHODS
A qualitative interview guide elicited perceived benefits, risks, and desired information relating to trial participation. Themes were developed from the transcribed texts and from freelists.


RESULTS
Stated willingness to volunteer in a preventive HIV vaccine trial was similar across the three communities. Eight perceived benefits were reported, including self-benefits, altruism, and stopping the spread of AIDS. Seven perceived risks were reported, including negative side effects and vaccine safety issues, contracting HIV from the vaccine, and social stigmatization. Participants voiced the desire for eight types of information about issues relating to trust and confidentiality in the research process, health complications and later assistance, and vaccine trial methodology.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, many benefits as well as risks of preventive HIV vaccine trial participation were cited. Scientists conducting preventive HIV vaccine trials need to address community perceptions of risks and provide information about the research if trial enrollment is to be diverse and successful.
Strauss
R P
RP
Department of Dental Ecology, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Center for AIDS Research, 27599-7450 USA. ron_strauss@unc.edu
Sengupta
S
S
Kegeles
S
S
McLellan
E
E
Metzger
D
D
Eyre
S
S
Khanani
F
F
Emrick
C B
CB
MacQueen
K M
KM
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000533:Altruism; D002755:Choice Behavior; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D015143:Philadelphia; D011287:Prejudice; D012307:Risk Factors; D021841:Safe Sex; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012495:San Francisco; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D016915:AIDS Vaccines