Effects of an Audiovisual Intervention to Improve Competence to Consent to Research Participation Among Young Gay and Bisexual Men Who Use Stimulants.

Standard consent practices in HIV research often do not facilitate truly competent informed consent. We examined a brief audiovisual intervention to enhance competence to consent to participate in a hypothetical trial aimed at promoting sexual health and reducing stimulant use among young gay and bi...

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Published in:Journal of Adolescent Health Vol. 78; no. 6; pp. 934 - 942
Main Authors: Valente, Pablo K., Fisher, Celia, Biello, Katie B., Mimiaga, Matthew J., O'Connor, Giselle, Pellegrino, Nicoletta, Knopf, Amelia, Brown, Brandon
Format: research randomized controlled trial Journal Article
Published: Elsevier B.V. Jun2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2026
      vid: 78
      iid: 6
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      pub: Elsevier B.V.
      place: New York, New York
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        193498525
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        10.1016/j.jadohealth.2026.02.020
        193498525
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        atl: Effects of an Audiovisual Intervention to Improve Competence to Consent to Research Participation Among Young Gay and Bisexual Men Who Use Stimulants.
      aug:
        au:
          Valente, Pablo K.
          Fisher, Celia
          Biello, Katie B.
          Mimiaga, Matthew J.
          O'Connor, Giselle
          Pellegrino, Nicoletta
          Knopf, Amelia
          Brown, Brandon
        affil: Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Waterbury, Connecticut
      sug:
        subj:
          Audiovisuals
          Gay Men Psychosocial Factors
          Bisexual Persons Psychosocial Factors
          Substance Use Disorders
          Consent (Research)
          Research Subjects
          Outcomes (Health Care)
          Human
          Adolescence
          HIV Infections
          Personal Satisfaction
          Young Adult
          White Persons
          Minority Groups
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Health Promotion
          Sexual Health
          Social Behavior
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
      ab: Standard consent practices in HIV research often do not facilitate truly competent informed consent. We examined a brief audiovisual intervention to enhance competence to consent to participate in a hypothetical trial aimed at promoting sexual health and reducing stimulant use among young gay and bisexual men who use stimulants. Between June 2024 and January 2025, we enrolled 115 young gay and bisexual men aged 16–24 years who were at risk for HIV transmission or acquisition and reported recent stimulant use. Participants were randomized to standard consent (i.e., written informed consent form) or an audiovisual intervention (i.e., standard consent plus an animated video). We evaluated differences in overall competence to consent and in each competence domain (understanding, appreciation, and reasoning). Secondary outcomes included willingness to participate in the hypothetical trial, satisfaction with the consent, and acceptability of video-enhanced consent. Participants' mean age was 21.8 years (standard deviation = 1.7), and approximately half (53%) identified as White; the remaining were racial/ethnic minorities. Fifty-three participants (46%) were randomized to standard consent practices and 62 (54%) to the audiovisual intervention. Participants in the audiovisual intervention had higher overall competence to consent (p =.02), understanding (p =.04), and appreciation scores (p =.04). There were no differences in reasoning scores or in willingness to participate. Participants in the audiovisual group also reported greater satisfaction with the consent. Acceptability of video-enhanced consent was high across groups. Audiovisual consent interventions may be valuable tools to improve competence to consent for HIV and substance use behavioral trials, particularly by enhancing understanding and appreciation of study information.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        randomized controlled trial
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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