The Vanguard Project is a study of HIV rates and risk factors in young gay and bisexual men between the ages of 15 and 30 in the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. Participants completed annual self-administered questionnaires and provided blood samples for HIV testing and storage either annually or every 6 months. 

The study was coordinated by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, which is a joint project of St. Paul's Hospital and the University of British Columbia, and funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Health Canada), the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

RECRUITMENT

Enrolment:

As of March 11th, 2002, a total of 1204 men who fit the eligibility criteria have signed up for the study.

Baseline:

• 1065 participants have completed a Baseline questionnaire.
• 1129 test results are available for Baseline participants.

Year Two:

• 655 participants have returned to complete a second questionnaire.
• 656 test results are available for Year Two participants.

Year Three:

• 468 participants have now completed a third questionnaire.
• 452 test results are available for Year Three participants.

Year Four:

• 353 participants have now completed a fourth questionnaire.
• 332 test results are available for Year Four participants.

Year Five:

• 256 participants have now completed a fifth questionnaire.
• 245 test results are available for Year Five participants.

Year Six:

• 158 participants have now completed a sixth questionnaire.
• 147 test results are available for Year Six participants.

Year Seven:

• 51 participants have now completed a seventh questionnaire.
• 29 test results are available for Year Seven participants.

Blood Samples:

Participants were asked to provide a small blood sample, to be frozen and stored for future immunological testing.

• 898 participants have provided at least one blood sample.
• 594 of those have returned to provide a 2nd sample.
• 443 participants have returned to provide a 3rd sample.
• 329 participants have returned to provide a 4th sample.
• 185 participant have returned to provide a 5th sample.
• 79 participants have returned to provide a 6th sample.
• 34 participants have returned to provide a 7th sample.
• 17 participants have returned to provide a 8th sample.
• 3 participants have returned to provide a 9th sample.
• And 1 participant has returned to provide a 10th sample.

Recruitment Strategies 

As illustrated in the graph below (updated October 23, 1998), Vanguard participants have been recruited in a variety of ways, the most successful of which has been direct outreach into bars and community events. Recently we have been holding free raffle draws at community events such as the Pride Festival, which have proven to be a successful method of recruitment.

Recruitment Timeline

Since the Vanguard Project was launched in May of 1995, almost 850 participants have been recruited.

As shown in the graph and pie-chart below, nearly 90% of those recruited have now completed at least the baseline questionnaire. Nearly half of the participants have completed at least two questionnaires, and nearly one third have returned to complete a third questionnaire. The fourth wave of questionnaires has just begun.

Percentage of participants who have completed...
(as of October 23, 1998)

Recruitment Time-Line: (as of October 23, 1998)

TEST SITES IN THE STUDY

Clinics

 

Three Bridges Community Health Centre
Address:	1292 Hornby Street (at Drake)
Hours:	Mondays: 1:00 to 4:00 pm;
	Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 am to 7:30 pm;
	Saturdays: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Phone:	736-9844

 

Main Street Clinic
Address:	219 Main Street at Hastings
Hours:	Monday to Friday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Phone:	660-9695

 

SFU Student Health
Address:	Burnaby campus
Hours:	Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Phone:	291-4615

 

STD Clinic
Address:	655 West 12th Avenue
Hours:	Tuesday to Thursday: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm;
	Monday and Friday: 8:30 am to 7:30 pm
Phone:	660-6161

 

UBC Student Health
Address:	University Hospital (ground floor)
Hours:	Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Phone:	822-7011

 

Youth Clinic at the Three Bridges Community Health Centre
Address:	1292 Hornby Street (at Drake)
Hours:	Monday to Friday: 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Phone:	736-9844

Mary Lou Miller R.N. and the Three Bridges Community Health Centre

Since being hired to assist with the Vanguard Project, Mary Lou Miller has been busy recruiting and testing participants. She is already well-known within the community from her work at the Bute Street Clinic.

Making the most of her years of experience as a street nurse, Mary Lou's work with the Vanguard Project has also focused on recruiting street-involved youth and sex trade workers. In cooperation with the "Boys R Us" Boystown Drop-in, Mary Lou has organized a series of events designed to encourage street youth to participate in the study.

Bute Street Clinic (a.ka. "Safe Company")

The Bute Street Clinic has been serving the gay and lesbian community since 1990. . Located in The Centre (formerly called the Gay & Lesbian Centre) at the corner of Bute and Davie, it is one of three outreach clinics operated by the BC Ministry of Health's Street Nurse program.

The Bute Street nurses have recruited and tested over 180 Vanguard participants, making the Bute Street Clinic one of the principal test sites for the Vanguard Project.

In addition to HIV testing and counselling, the Bute Street Clinic offers full STD screening and treatment, and vaccinations for Hep B and the flu. Condoms, water-based lube, latex gloves and dental dams are available free of charge.

Participating Physicians

TEST SITE COMPARISON - RESULTS

As shown in the pie-chart below, over 80% of Vanguard participants have been tested at medical clinics, as opposed to at family physicians

As shown in the pie-chart below, over 80% of Vanguard participants have been tested at medical clinics, as opposed to at family physicians.

PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS TESTED (as of March, 1999)

The majority of Vanguard participants have been tested by Vanguard nurse Mary Lou Miller at the Three Bridges Community Health Centre.

The Bute Street Clinic, the Richards Street Clinic and the ATEC/STD Clinic have also tested many participants.

Of the participants who have been tested by physicians, the majority have been seen by either Dr. Brian Woodfall or Dr. Joss De Wet.

TEST SITES OF COMPLETED PARTICIPANTS: (as of March, 1999)

PARTICIPATION INFORMATION

One thousand participants were needed for this ongoing study of HIV incidence and risk factors in young gay and bisexual men in the Lower Mainland.

Who could participate?

To be eligible to participate in the Vanguard Project, participants must have been between 15 and 30 years of age and live in the Lower Mainland. [Please note that while the study was originally restricted to people over the age of 18, we have recently received approval to lower the age restriction to 15.]

The study was open to all men who have sex with men, whether you define yourself as gay, bisexual or straight.

All information gathered by this study, including the names of participants, will be kept strictly confidential. You could participate in the Vanguard Project without providing your real name, or any other information about yourself. We will respect whatever degree of privacy you're comfortable with, as long as we have some way of communicating with you from year to year. You can, for instance, provide us with a postal box instead of your street address, or register by e-mail instead of over the phone.

What's was involved?

All you had to do was visit a doctor or a medical clinic for an annual blood test and complete a self-administered questionnaire. If you did not have a doctor you felt comfortable with, we would refer you to one of the doctors or clinics participating in the study. Whether or not you receive your own test results was entirely up to the participant.

Once a year a Project Coordinator contacted partcipants reminding that it's time for your annual visit.

Why participate?

For your own health.

The Vanguard Project can assist you in accessing better health care. Looking for a gay-positive doctor? We can refer you to physicians who are familiar with health issues affecting men who have sex with men. Concerned about confidentiality? We can direct you to medical clinics where you can be tested for HIV without having to provide your name or B.C. Care Card number. While you're there, you can also be screened for other STDs, have a complete medical exam, or speak with someone who understands your concerns and who won't pass judgment on your sexual behaviour. Think of the Vanguard Project as a partner in your own health.

For the health of the community.

As well, the results of the Vanguard Project will have very important implications for the community. Why? Because the results of this type of research directly affect public policy. For instance, an accurate picture of HIV-infection rates influences decision-making on the distribution of government funds for health care and AIDS education.

Who was behind the study?

The Vanguard Project is being conducted by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul's Hospital, and the University of British Columbia. The study is funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Health Canada), the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. The project was launched in May '95 with an initial three years of funding, which is subject to renewal.

Under the direction of Dr. Martin Schechter and colleagues, the Centre for Excellence is also responsible for the internationally renowned Vancouver Lymphadenopathy-AIDS Study (VLAS), which is the largest and the longest-running study of its kind in Canada. We also distribute drugs for people with HIV/AIDS, provide education to health care providers, conduct and develop innovative laboratory procedures, and participate in clinical trials. Research supports each of these initiatives.