Supporting Trans Affirmation, Relationships, and Sex, Phase 3

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate and test a newly developed gender-affirming intervention that addresses the dual and interconnected risks of HIV and intimate partner victimization (IPV) among transgender women (TW). The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) will the study intervention reduce HIV risk within the context of IPV and related risk factors (e.g., substance use and PTSD); (2) will STARS improve primary prevention behaviors, such as condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use, and repeat HIV testing; and (3) what are the mechanisms of change relevant to the theoretical foundations of the intervention, including gender affirmation, empowerment, and self-efficacy. The findings from this study will provide the necessary groundwork to examine the efficacy of this combined HIV-IPV intervention in a future, large-scale clinical trial. There are several components to this research study: * First, participants will be asked to complete a series of screening interviews/questionnaires to determine eligibility, including completing a HIV test. * If eligible, participants will then take part in a 2-3 hour baseline assessment consisting of both interviewer administered questionnaires as well as self-administered surveys. * Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: (1) a newly developed gender affirming intervention, known as Program STARS (Supporting Trans Affirmation, relationships, and Sex) or (2) a time-matched, attention-controlled program that offers free training in relaxation and stress reduction techniques (a.k.a., the comparison group). Both interventions offer unique components and the researchers do not yet know the impact the programs may have on participants' overall well-being. * Participants randomized to Project STARS, will be invited to complete a semi-structured exit interview (lasting 60-90 min.) after the completion of the program. * This clinical trial has three follow-up assessments: (1) post-intervention (i.e., after the peer-counseling programs are complete); (2) at 4-months follow-up; and (3) at 6-months follow-up. The follow-up assessments are structured the same way as the baseline assessment and are estimated to take around 1-2 hours. The total study involvement for this clinical trial is estimated to take approximately 10 to 12 hours over the course of six months.

What you commit to

• Study type: Interventional
• Participants enrolled: 37
• From 20 Jun 2023 to the primary completion date, 30 May 2024
• 1 site in 1 country
• Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Who the study is looking for

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: Male · Accepts healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

Related publications

• Transfeminine Survivors' and Facilitators' Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence Content in a Peer-Led HIV-IPV Prevention Program.J Interpers Violence · 2026 · PMID 42689551
• Mixed methods trial of a peer intervention for HIV and partner victimization in transgender women.J Couns Psychol · 2026 · PMID 41196739