Question-Order Effect Experiment to Measure HIV Stigma

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: HIV

• Registration Number: NCT06969690
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

Question-order effect experiment to measure HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PWH).

Detailed Description

HIV-related stigma is a barrier to engagement in HIV prevention and treatment. Given the negative impact of stigma on the HIV continuum of care, accurate assessment of HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PWH) in resource-limited settings is paramount. The purpose of this study is to conduct a question order experiment to assess the extent to which the order of presented questions affects measurement of HIV-related stigma.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-11-02
• Primary Completion: 2025-01-06
• Study Completion: 2025-01-06
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-12
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-14
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 180

Inclusion Criteria

• All HIV-positive (self-reported) adults who consider Nyakabare their primary place of residence and who are capable of providing consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Minors younger than 18 years of age, with the exception of emancipated minors
• Persons who do not consider Nyakabare Parish their primary place of residence, e.g. persons who happen to be visiting Nyakabare at the time of the survey or who own a home in Nyakabare but spend most of their time outside of the parish
• Persons with psychosis, neurological damage, acute intoxication, or other cognitive impairment (all of which are determined informally in the field by non-clinical research staff in consultation with a supervisor)
• Persons who are not HIV positive

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-esteem	Baseline (assessed at the time the survey is administered)	...do you think less of yourself because of your HIV status? (single item)
Self-respect	Baseline (assessed at the time the survey is administered)	...have you felt ashamed because of your HIV status? (single item)
Experiences of harassment due to HV status	Baseline (assessed at the time the survey is administered)	* have you lost respect or standing in the community because of your HIV status?; * have people talked badly about you because of your HIV status?; * have you been verbally insulted, harassed and/or threatened because of your HIV status?; * have you been physically assaulted because of your HIV status?; * has someone else disclosed your HIV status without your permission?; * have you felt that people have not wanted to sit next to you, for example on public transport, at church or in the waiting room, because of your HIV status? (six items)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mbarara University of Science and Technology; 🇺🇬 Mbarara, Uganda