Acceptance and Factors Associated With Participation in Functional Cure–Related Trials Among People Living With HIV: A Cross-sectional Study in Southern China

Abstract

HIV remains a global health challenge, and research efforts directed towards a functional cure require people living with HIV (PLHIV) involvement in clinical trials. Our study assessed willingness to participate in HIV functional cure–related clinical trials and associated factors among PLHIV in Guangzhou, China using a questionnaire survey approach. We analyzed responses from 718 questionnaires, finding that 71.2% were willing to participate in Phase III trials, while 51.7% were willing to participate in Phase I trials and 42.9% expressed acceptability for analytic treatment interruption. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that male PLHIV, those with awareness of functional cure, and PLHIV who had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for less than one year, were more willing to participate in Phase III trials. Those with a Body Mass Index over 24, and those without resistance to ART drug, were more willing to participate in Phase I trials. The major motivations for participation in phase III trials were access to cutting-edge treatments (62.6%) and supporting research (55.3%). Safety was the main concern contributing to hesitancy. Our study revealed a high willingness to participate in HIV functional cure–related trials among PLHIV in Guangzhou, China, and willingness varied across different trial phases and was influenced by multiple factors. This study provides valuable references for future clinical trial recruitment strategies and public health policy formulation.