The team will need to assess the safety of all trial participants and ensure that everyone is aware of the rumour and potential impact on their safety. The team must then develop an issues management plan to address the rumour with support and input from the key stakeholders and community by discussing the study, explain the concept of being gay and that it is not to be denied among the community members. Researchers may engage with advocates and alert the local police of potential violence linked to the research population group.
The researchers should have developed a better understanding of the community and their views and responses to the research among the gay or MSM population. Sensitization and education efforts on MSM should have been implemented and assessed so that the researchers appreciate the cultural and social factors impacting on the project goals. The security and safety of the participants in context of stigma should have been discussed and the team needed to develop a plan prior to study start up.
