Background

The Good Participatory Practice (GPP) Guidelines for biomedical HIV prevention trials were published by UNAIDS and AVAC in November, 2007. AVAC conducted a survey over two months in early 2009 to gauge biomedical HIV prevention stakeholder awareness and utilization of the GPP guidelines, attitudes around community engagement in biomedical HIV prevention trials, and to identify gaps in achieving appropriate community engagement.

Methods

The GPP survey was designed to gather baseline awareness and utilization of the GPP guidelines and was directed at biomedical HIV prevention trial sponsors and networks, trial site staff, community members and regulators. The survey was distributed to stakeholders using list serves, email, and website postings, and was available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Survey Monkey was used to capture and tabulate data.

Results

Widespread response was gained with 533 individuals from 68 countries responding to the survey. 10% of respondents were individuals representing trial sponsors or network headquarters, 32% were trial site staff, 57% were community representatives, and 1% of respondents were members of regulatory bodies. Awareness of the guidelines was 63% percent, yet only 50% of those aware of the guidelines had read them. 93% of sponsors said they expected their sponsored trial sites to work collaboratively with communities. However, only 32% of trial site-based respondents reported receiving guidelines about community engagement from their sponsors that they were required to follow.

Conclusion

While awareness of the GPP guidelines is increasing, efforts must continue to orient stakeholders to their content and build support for their adoption by trial sponsors. Results from the survey indicate that although there is a high level of reported interest in community engagement across stakeholders, trial sites need more funds and support to appropriately implement the minimum elements of good participatory practice.