Cognitive factors and willingness to participate in an HIV vaccine trial among HIV-positive injection drug users

Abstract

There are gaps in our knowledge of the role cognitive factors play in determining people’s willingness to participate (WTP) in therapeutic HIV vaccine trials. Using a cross-sectional design in HIV-positive injection drug users (IDU), we determined the role of three cognitive factors: HIV treatment optimism, self-efficacy beliefs, and knowledge of vaccine trial concepts in relation to WTP in a hypothetical phase 3 therapeutic HIV vaccine trial. Willingness to participate was 54%. Participants tended to be low in HIV treatment optimism (mean = 3.9/10), high in self-efficacy (mean = 79.8/100), and low in knowledge (mean = 4.1/10). Items pertaining to HIV treatment optimism and knowledge of HIV vaccine trial concepts were generally unrelated to WTP. An increase in self-efficacy had a statistically significant positive association with WTP (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.04–2.46, p<0.05). Furthermore, most of these HIV-positive participants had high levels of self-efficacy, so we are most confident about this relationship at such levels.

Willingness to Participate in Hypothetical HIV Vaccine Trial and Associated Factors among People Who Inject Drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…This indicates that, regardless of the prior knowledge of and awareness of HIV vaccine trials, participants may still be willing to participate. Similar findings were reported in Canada for both HIV-negative and HIV-positive PWIDs [25,48]. It is also important to note that there is a need for education about HIV vaccine trials to enhance participants' understanding and knowledge in their decision-making process as reported elsewhere [49].…”

Willingness to Participate in HIV Therapeutic Vaccine Trials among HIV-Infected Patients on ART in China

“…However, only very limited information on the WTP in HIV therapeutic vaccine trials is currently available [23]. Asia is the second most severely affected region, after Sub-Saharan Africa, and may greatly benefit from an effective therapeutic vaccine [37].…”

“…As an important therapeutic strategy, a therapeutic vaccine will likely be integrated into ART regimens to enhance the efficacy of treatment or potentially to eradicate HIV infection in the future [32] . However, only very limited information on the WTP in HIV therapeutic vaccine trials is currently available [23] . Asia is the second most severely affected region, after Sub-Saharan Africa, and may greatly benefit from an effective therapeutic vaccine [37] .…”

“…In particular, the factors influencing the WTP in and the expectations from HIV-1 therapeutic vaccine trials should be defined because they are critical in preparing the therapeutic vaccine clinical trials and for motivating HIV-positive individuals to engage in those future clinical trials. WTP in preventive HIV vaccine trials has been widely investigated in several countries [18] – [22] ; however, only limited information on willingness to participate in HIV therapeutic vaccine trials is available [23] . To gain knowledge on this aspect, we carried out the present study to assess the WTP and its predictors among HIV-infected individuals.…”

Enhanced retention strategies and willingness to participate among hard-to-reach female sex workers in Barcelona for HIV prevention and vaccine trials

“… 16 - 19 Surprisingly few reports have been published on retention strategies for HIV vaccine preparedness studies among the hard-to-reach population. 20 , 21 …”