Adherence to rectal gel use among mainly ethnic minority young men who have sex with men during a 3-month placebo gel trial: implications for microbicide research.
To study adherence to product use prior to a Phase I microbicide trial, we recruited young men who have sex with men (YMSM) with a history of unprotected receptive anal intercourse (RAI) and provided them with 40 rectal applicators containing a placebo gel to use prior to RAI during a 12-week period. Ninety-five YMSM completed the trial. Based on a Computer Assisted Self Interview, 83 participants had receptive anal intercourse (RAI) (Median 12 occasions) using gel on 82.4 % of occasions (SD 26.7; 0-100). Based on an interactive voice response system, 88 participants had RAI (Median 10 occasions) using gel on 87.9 % of occasions (SD 20.0; 20-100). By applicator counts the median gel use was 12. Participants showed high adherence to gel use. Those who did not use the product consistently (n = 40) adduced not having it with them (85 %), forgetting to use it (48 %), not wanting to use it (13 %), partner refusal (10 %) and gel messiness (10 %).
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA, ac72@columbia.edu.
Alex
A
Carballo-Diéguez
Rebecca
R
Giguere
Curtis
C
Dolezal
José
J
Bauermeister
Cheng-Shiun
CS
Leu
Juan
J
Valladares
Timothy
T
Frasca
Rita
R
Labbett
Ross D
RD
Cranston
Irma
I
Febo
Kenneth
K
Mayer
Ian
I
McGowan
D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005782:Gels