TITLE:
The Motivations and Experiences of Young Women in a Microbicide Trial in the USA and Puerto Rico
AUTHORS:
Rebecca Giguere, Gregory D. Zimet, Jessica A. Kahn, Curtis Dolezal, Cheng-Shiun Leu, Marina Mabragaña, Ian McGowan, Alex Carballo-Diéguez
KEYWORDS:
USA; Puerto Rico; Microbicides; Motivation; Research Participation; Young Women; HIV
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.3 No.3,
August
9,
2013
ABSTRACT: Young women
are an important target group in microbicide research, yet little is known
about why they participate and stay in microbicide trials. Our study examined
motivations for participating in a Phase I microbicide trial among 61 women
ages 18 - 24 years in the continental USA and Puerto Rico. We also examined
their perspectives on study participation. Participants underwent a
semi-structured in-depth interview in which they were asked about factors that
motivated enrollment and their experiences while participating. They also
completed a Web-based Computer Assisted Self Interview in which they were asked
to rate study burden (1 = low to 4 = high). Factors that motivated enrollment
were altruism (29%), compensation (17%), a combination of altruism and compensation
(37%) and free medical exams (17%). Factors that encouraged participants to
stay in the study were study staff (95%), confirmation of good health (41%),
and the opportunity to learn about their bodies (17%). Mean ratings of study
burden ranged from 1.83 (having to travel to site) to 2.41 (colposcopy),
indicating that participants were not highly bothered by visits or procedures.
Although Phase I trials require invasive procedures, participants were not
highly bothered by them and recognized them as necessary. Good relationships
with staff and clear information about how procedures contribute to study goals
may encourage participants to remain in trials. Young women may be motivated to
enter microbicide trials by stressing the role they will play in discovering
better HIV-prevention methods and highlighting the comprehensive preventive
exams they will receive.