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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03218839

Evaluation of the PrePex Device for Rapid Scale-up of VMMC, Phase 3 Field Implementation Trial With HIV + Adult Males

This study will assess the safety of the PrePex device as applied to HIV positive men by assessing the rate of clinical adverse events. The study will include adult, HIV + men who are eligible to receive the PrePex procedure per the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) eligibility criteria.

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Key information

Conditions

HIV Seropositivity Blood-Borne Infections Communicable Diseases Genital Diseases HIV Infections Immune System Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Infections Lentivirus Infections RNA Virus Infections Retroviridae Infections Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Urogenital Diseases Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Zengeza Clinic

Chitungwiza, Harare, Zimbabwe

About this study

According to mathematical modeling, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) has the potential to have a major impact on reducing HIV incidence in areas with high HIV prevalence and low prevalence of male circumcision, as is the case in Zimbabwe. Male circumcision devices have the potential to accelerate VMMC scale-up as the procedure is faster and simpler and can be safely performed by nurses. However, fear of social stigma and desire to avoid HIV testing remain potential barriers to those HIV+ men who would otherwise seek out VMMC. Study subjects (n=400) are HIV+ males who elect to undergo VMMC with PrePex as a study subject, and healthcare workers involved in implementation of PrePex on HIV+ male subjects. The aim of the study is to determine if PrePex can be used safely among HIV+ men with similar rates of adverse events to HIV-uninfected men. If so, then the barrier of mandatory HIV testing as part of VMMC could be removed, encouraging more men to undergo the procedure. Determining PrePex safety in HIV+ men would also allow both those with unknown status and those with positive status to undergo MC with PrePex. Determining the barriers to performing VMMC among HIV+ men among healthcare workers, if any, would also inform future policy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Agrees to take an HIV test
  • HIV sero-positive
  • WHO HIV clinical stage 1 or 2
  • Age 18 years and above
  • Agrees to be circumcised by PrePex
  • Able to understand the study procedures and requirements
  • Completes VMMC counseling
  • Agrees to return to the health care facility for follow-up visits or as instructed after this circumcision until complete healing 7 weeks from device application, or until cleared by a physician
  • Able to comprehend and freely give informed consent for study participation

Exclusion criteria

  • Known bleeding/coagulation abnormality (excessive bleeding from nosebleeds, pulled tooth, or gums)
  • Uncontrolled diabetes (frequent treatment in a clinic or recent hospitalization for diabetes, frequent infections, hypertension, or kidney disease)
  • Active genital infection, anatomic abnormality or any other condition, which in the opinion of the investigator prevents the subject from undergoing circumcision using PrePex.
  • HIV sero-negative
  • HIV status unknown
  • WHO HIV stage 3 and above
  • Does not agree to PrePex

Treatment and study plan

PrePex male circumcision device

Device

PrePex non-surgical male circumcision device applied to eligible, consenting HIV-infected men in Zimbabwe to determine the rate of adverse events as compared to non HIV-infected men.

Primary outcomes

  1. Rate of adverse events among HIV+ males using PrePex device

    Time frame: Device application through complete wound healing (up to 90 days)

    The primary safety endpoint is the incidence of clinical adverse events and device-related incidents.

    • Clinical related incidents such as the following:
    • Site bleeding (bleeding that cannot be stopped with pressure of 30 seconds and requires suturing)
    • Penis-wide diffuse hematoma
    • Penis-wide diffuse edema
    • Incision site infection and related symptoms
    • Device-related incidents
    • Necrotic Process not initiated
    • Device does not remain in situ for the full 7 days (displacement)

    Note: This list of AEs is not exhaustive.

    Severity of AE will be determined according to PEPFAR/OGAC guidelines

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain assessment at key time points

    Time frame: Placement through complete healing (up to 90 days)

    • Subject's subjective pain, tingling, and discomfort related to PrePex when applying the system, wearing it and removing it. This will be assessed by numeric pain, tingling and discomfort VAS scale (Pain = VAS x Duration in Minutes). Measured in the post placement recovery at 15 minutes after placement, and then 1, 2, and 3 hours post placement.
    • As the necrotic process initiates, it is expected that some of subjects will have temporary discomfort during the first 2 hours after deployment (hence anaesthetic cream), which vanishes thereafter for the rest of the weeklong period when the device is in place.
    • Some pain is expected for a short duration (about 10 seconds) when extracting the Inner Ring during the removal procedure.

  2. Abstinence until complete wound healing

    Time frame: Post placement through complete healing (up to 90 days)

    Survival analysis of the timing of resumed sexual activity among subjects

  3. Factors associated with abstinence until complete wound healing

    Time frame: Post placement through complete healing (approximately 90 days for men who participate in the qualitative component)

    Patient factors (knowledge, attitudes) associated with abstinence from sex until wound healing is complete

  4. Time to complete healing

    Time frame: Device placement through complete healing (up to 90 days)

    Mean of days for complete healing (continuous measure) and factors associated with number of days to complete healing (continuous outcome - multiple linear regression)

    • A completely healed circumcision as defined as, "Intact epithelium (unbroken skin) covering the epithelial as judged by the provider on visual inspection, meaning that none of the following are present: sutures, scabbing, drainage, moisture, gaps between epithelial edges or ulceration.]
    • Optional validation by objective analysis of wounds by photographs

  5. Cosmetic results

    Time frame: At complete healing (up to 90 days)

    • Objective analysis of photographs
    • Glans fully exposed (complete circumcision)

  6. Patient satisfaction

    Time frame: 3 time points: Prior to the procedure, two weeks post-procedure, and 90 days post-procedure Device placement through ~90 days post procedure

    A composite measure created among patients involved in the qualitative component who will be asked about satisfaction with the PrePex™ MC procedure, barriers and motivators to uptake of VMMC through PrePex™, opinions around convenience of the device, tolerance of potential odour and whether participants would recommend PrePex™ MC to others.

  7. Patient daily life

    Time frame: 3 time points: Prior to the procedure, two weeks post-procedure, and 90 days post-procedure Device placement through ~90 days post procedure

    Patients involved in the qualitative component will be asked about activities of daily living restrictions. They will complete a brief form that includes listing of activities of daily living, whether they are interrupted and for how long. This includes the average number of lost working hours (or potential working hours in unemployed). A composite measure will be created.

  8. PrePex staff perceptions

    Time frame: 4 weeks after study implementation begins

    Responses by clinicians to Likert scale questions on their beliefs about PrePex VMMC and using this procedure on HIV+ men

  9. PrePex staff clinical skills

    Time frame: At study closing,approximately 18 months after study initiation

    An overall assessment of clinician skills as a group will be made by combining and reporting on several indirect measures. Included measures will be the proportion of clients experiencing AEs and the average procedure time.

    • Assessing AE monitoring and reporting systems through
    • completeness of reporting
    • timeliness

  10. PrePex AE monitoring and reporting systems

    Time frame: During all active follow-up: 90 days for participants

    An ongoing assessment of AE monitoring and reporting systems through

    • completeness of reporting
    • timeliness of reports

  11. PrePex staff perceptions of their clinical skills

    Time frame: 4 weeks after study implementation begins

    Compilation report of Likert scale results from questions ascertaining PrepPex training, abilities, productivity and confidence.

  12. PrePex staff satisfaction

    Time frame: 4 weeks after study implementation begins

    Compilation report on responses to likert scales question on their satisfaction performing PrePex on HIV+ men.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Washington

Other

Collaborators

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe
  • University of Zimbabwe
  • Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Project (ZiCHIRe), Zimbabwe

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of Safety, Efficacy and Acceptability of the PrePexTM Device for Rapid Scale-up of Adult Male Circumcision Programs in Zimbabwe, Phase III PrePexTM Field Implementation Trial With HIV Positive Adult Males

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Jul 17, 2017
Registry last updated
Jul 17, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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