This manual describes strategies for meeting the health care needs of participants in clinical trials related to HIV/AIDS.

The information presented here comes from the knowledge gained from several studies: the Partnering for Care project, which was a collaboration between the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and Family Health International (FHI), with funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health; HIV prevention trials funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by FHI and others; and a study carried out by the Global Campaign for Microbicides with USAID funding, called Mapping the Standard of Care at Microbicide Clinical Trial Sites.

We created this manual to assist a wide range of readers. These include clinical trial developers, implementers, physicians, community partners, and other stakeholders. Health care advocates of all kinds could also benefit from some of the information that follows. In addition, we hope that this manual proves useful to a range of other readers, including public health experts, government leaders in trial communities and countries, and more.

Overall, we hope that this manual serves as a resource to support health care efforts in many ways. Consequently, we include many anecdotes to give readers a sense of on-the-ground experiences that support our conclusions. Also, to give this manual a very practical side, we include a series of how-to steps and checklists to simplify the application of this information.

Although this manual focuses on health care related to HIV/AIDS clinical trials, much of the information presented here also applies to other situations. For example, many of the steps explained here could strengthen health care systems behind clinical trials for various conditions and treatments. Moreover, communities — or even wider geographic regions — could apply many of the steps described here to build a more effective system of health care in general.

Visit Partnering for Care in HIV Prevention Trials — A How-To Manual Download Page

You can download full publication in PDF format.

By Kathleen M. MacQueen and Mike May
Family Health International

Seven Steps to Effective Partnering for Care

Step 1: Build a public health attitude among research leaders and staff
Viewing research as a component of public health encourages research teams to find problem-solving opportunities.

Step 2: Assess the local community’s values, attitudes, and priorities
A successful health care strategy requires understanding of and respect for local community perspectives.

Step 3: Assess the assets and constraints of the public health system
The larger, surrounding system of public health must be assessed and considered in developing a care strategy.

Step 4: Engage the community
The local community provides essential support for a trial, such as practical guidance for recruiting participants and for solving health care challenges.

Step 5: Determine the extent of care to provide
Sponsors and principal investigators must determine what form of care will be provided, over what duration, and whether it will be provided by clinical trial staff or through partnerships.

Step 6: Build relationships with nearby resources
Trial sites with nearby resources tend to build bonds that lead to better health care for the participants.

Step 7: Develop a referral system
These steps require a system that creates and follows a referral from start to finish, and documents the process.

Visit Family Health International (FHI) Website

Improving lives worldwide

Formed in 1971, Family Health International (FHI) is among the largest and most established nonprofit organizations active in international public health with a mission to improve lives worldwide through research, education, and services in family health.

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