The Prevalence and Negative Impacts of Substance Use Disorders among People with HIV in the United States: A Real-Time Delphi Survey of Key Stakeholders

Testing the incremental effectiveness of pay-for-performance to improve implementation of a motivational interviewing brief intervention for substance use disorders in HIV settings: Results of a parallel cluster-randomized type 3 hybrid trial

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) have a serious adverse impact on the physical and mental well-being of people with HIV. Previously, using a 39-site dual-randomized type 2 hybrid trial design, findings from the Substance Abuse Treatment to HIV Care Project supported the Implementation and Sustainment Facilitation (ISF) strategy to improve implementation and effectiveness of a motivational interviewing brief intervention (MIBI) for SUD within HIV service settings across the United States (US). Building on this trial, this parallel cluster-randomized type 3 hybrid trial aimed to test the incremental effectiveness of a pay-for-performance (P4P), a form of the "alter incentive/allowance structures" strategy. Methods: Twenty-six HIV service organizations, their staff participants (N=87), and their client participants (N=341) were cluster-randomized to one of two implementation conditions. The control condition included staff-focused training, feedback, and consultation (TFC) and team-focused implementation and sustainment (ISF). The experimental condition included TFC+ISF as well as P4P (TFC+ISF+P4P). P4P used financial incentives to reward MIBI implementation (US$10 per MIBI delivered) and MIBI implementation at or above a pre-defined level of quality (US$10 per demonstration). In addition to these outcomes, past 4-week changes/reductions in client participant's days of primary substance use and anxiety symptoms were examined. Results: The addition of P4P had a large and significant effect on the number of MIBIs implemented ( d =1.30, p<.05) and reduction in anxiety ( d= -1.54), but there was no impact on days of substance use. P4P had large effects on MIBI quality ( d =1.24) and MIBI implementation effectiveness ( d =1.28), but these were not significant ( p <.10). Conclusions: P4P is a form of the "alter incentive/allowance structures" strategy. Its function is to reward the implementation of a clinical innovation. Rewarding implementation is consistent with the theory of implementation effectiveness, which suggests implementation climate (i.e., the extent to which implementation is expected, supported, and rewarded) is a key antecedent of implementation effectiveness (i.e., the consistency and quality of implementation). We found that P4P had a significant, positive impact on MIBI implementation in HIV service settings, but client-level outcomes were mixed. Future research should examine the effectiveness of the P4P strategy to improve implementation and sustainment of other evidence-based innovations. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04687917. Registered 12/18/2020.

"I Thought Cancer was a Tobacco Issue": Perspectives of Veterans with and without HIV on Cancer and Other Health Risks Associated with Alcohol and Tobacco/Nicotine Use

U.S. Veterans and people living with HIV (PWH) experience higher rates of unhealthy alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use than non-Veterans and people without HIV (PWoH). Both groups are susceptible to adverse health outcomes associated with alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use. We explored awareness of alcohol- and tobacco/nicotine-related cancer and immune health risks among Veterans Health Administration (VA) patients with and without HIV. Among a sample of 41 (46% PWH; 73% male; 39% Black) purposively-selected VA patients receiving care 2020-2021 we conducted semi-structured interviews via telephone; interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a Rapid Assessment Process. Purposive selection was based on HIV status, alcohol and/or tobacco/nicotine use, and demographics. Among participants, 66% reported current smoking, and most screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use. Participants had high awareness of cancer and other health risks related to smoking but low awareness of synergistic risks and cancer risks associated with alcohol use despite awareness of a range of other alcohol-related risks. Awareness of alcohol and/or tobacco/nicotine's impacts on the immune system was variable. Findings did not distinctly differ between PWH and PWoH. Low awareness of alcohol-related cancer risk, risks of co-occurring use, and varying awareness of the impacts of alcohol and tobacco/nicotine on the immune system suggest a need for improved messaging regarding substance use-related cancer and immune risk. This may be especially important among PWH, for whom the prevalence and adverse effects of alcohol and tobacco use, and immune dysfunction are higher.

Adult Human Brain Tissue Cultures to Study NeuroHIV

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist under antiretroviral therapy as a complex pathology that has been difficult to study in cellular and animal models. Therefore, we generated an ex vivo human brain slice model of HIV-1 infection from surgically resected adult brain tissue. Brain slice cultures processed for flow cytometry showed >90% viability of dissociated cells within the first three weeks in vitro, with parallel detection of astrocyte, myeloid, and neuronal populations. Neurons within brain slices showed stable dendritic spine density and mature spine morphologies in the first weeks in culture, and they generated detectable activity in multi-electrode arrays. We infected cultured brain slices using patient-matched CD4+ T-cells or monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) that were exposed to a GFP-expressing R5-tropic HIV-1 in vitro. Infected slice cultures expressed viral RNA and developed a spreading infection up to 9 days post-infection, which were significantly decreased by antiretrovirals. We also detected infected myeloid cells and astrocytes within slices and observed minimal effect on cellular viability over time. Overall, this human-centered model offers a promising resource to study the cellular mechanisms contributing to HAND (including antiretroviral toxicity, substance use, and aging), infection of resident brain cells, and new neuroprotective therapeutics.

Consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for neonatal encephalopathy-study protocol for a real-time modified delphi study

BACKGROUND

'Neonatal encephalopathy' (NE) describes a group of conditions in term infants presenting in the earliest days after birth with disturbed neurological function of cerebral origin. NE is aetiologically heterogenous; one cause is peripartum hypoxic ischaemia. Lack of uniformity in the terminology used to describe NE and its diagnostic criteria creates difficulty in the design and interpretation of research and complicates communication with families. The DEFINE study aims to use a modified Delphi approach to form a consensus definition for NE, and diagnostic criteria.

METHODS

Directed by an international steering group, we will conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the terminology used in trials of NE, and with their guidance perform an online Real-time Delphi survey to develop a consensus diagnosis and criteria for NE. A consensus meeting will be held to agree on the final terminology and criteria, and the outcome disseminated widely.

DISCUSSION

A clear and consistent consensus-based definition of NE and criteria for its diagnosis, achieved by use of a modified Delphi technique, will enable more comparability of research results and improved communication among professionals and with families.

IMPACT

The terms Neonatal Encephalopathy and Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy tend to be used interchangeably in the literature to describe a term newborn with signs of encephalopathy at birth. This creates difficulty in communication with families and carers, and between medical professionals and researchers, as well as creating difficulty with performance of research. The DEFINE project will use a Real-time Delphi approach to create a consensus definition for the term 'Neonatal Encephalopathy'. A definition formed by this consensus approach will be accepted and utilised by the neonatal community to improve research, outcomes, and parental experience.

Testing the incremental effectiveness of pay-for-performance to improve implementation of a motivational interviewing brief intervention for substance use disorders in HIV settings: Results of a cluster-randomized type 3 hybrid trial

Background

Substance use disorders (SUDs) have a serious adverse impact on people living with HIV. Previously, using a 39-site dual-randomized type 2 hybrid trial design, findings from the Substance Abuse Treatment to HIV Care Project supported the Implementation and Sustainment Facilitation (ISF) strategy to improve implementation and effectiveness of a motivational interviewing brief intervention (MIBI) for SUD within HIV service settings across the United States (US). Building on this trial, this cluster-randomized type 3 hybrid trial aimed to test the incremental effectiveness of a pay-for-performance (P4P), a form of the "alter incentive/allowance structures" strategy.

Methods

Twenty-six HIV service organizations, their staff participants (N=87), and their client participants (N=341) were cluster-randomized to one of two implementation conditions. The control condition included staff-focused training, feedback, and consultation (TFC) and team-focused implementation and sustainment (ISF). The experimental condition included TFC+ISF as well as P4P (TFC+ISF+P4P). P4P used financial incentives to reward MIBI implementation (US$10 per MIBI delivered) and MIBI implementation at or above a pre-defined level of quality (US$10 per demonstration). In addition to these outcomes, past 4-week changes/reductions in client participant's days of primary substance use and anxiety symptoms were examined.

Results

The addition of P4P had a large and significant effect on the number of MIBIs implemented (d=1.30, p<.05) and reduction in anxiety (d=-1.54), but there was no impact on days of substance use. P4P had large effects on MIBI quality (d=1.24) and MIBI implementation effectiveness (d=1.28), but these were not significant (p<.10).

Conclusions

P4P is a form of the "alter incentive/allowance structures" strategy Its function is to reward the implementation of a clinical innovation. Rewarding implementation is consistent with the theory of implementation effectiveness, which suggests implementation climate (i.e., the extent to which implementation is expected, supported, and rewarded) is a key antecedent of implementation effectiveness (i.e., the consistency and quality of implementation). We found that P4P had a significant, positive impact on MIBI implementation in HIV service settings, but client-level outcomes were mixed. Future research should examine the cost-effectiveness of this strategy, as well as to examine the effectiveness of P4P to improve the implementation of other evidence-based innovations.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04687917. Registered 12/18/2020.

Protocol for the development of a core outcome set for neonatal sepsis (NESCOS)

Neonatal sepsis is a serious public health problem; however, there is substantial heterogeneity in the outcomes measured and reported in research evaluating the effectiveness of the treatments. Therefore, we aim to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) for studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for neonatal sepsis. Since a systematic review of key outcomes from randomised trials of therapeutic interventions in neonatal sepsis was published recently, we will complement this with a qualitative systematic review of the key outcomes of neonatal sepsis identified by parents, other family members, parent representatives, healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers. We will interpret the outcomes of both studies using a previously established framework. Stakeholders across three different groups i.e., (1) researchers, (2) healthcare providers, and (3) patients' parents/family members and parent representatives will rate the importance of the outcomes in an online Real-Time Delphi Survey. Afterwards, consensus meetings will be held to agree on the final COS through online discussions with key stakeholders. This COS is expected to minimize outcome heterogeneity in measurements and publications, improve comparability and synthesis, and decrease research waste.

Disentangling opioids-related overdose syndemics: a scoping review

This article reviews research investigating the synergistic interaction of opioid-related morbidity and mortality with other social, psychiatric, and biological conditions, to describe how and why it is syndemic. Opioid-related overdose syndemics are driven by commercial interests, emerging in communities facing social and economic disadvantage, and interacting with a range of other health conditions. We included articles that empirically investigated an opioid-related syndemic, discussed syndemic co-factors associated with opioid use, or framed opioid consumption conceptually in relation to syndemics. Most articles were conducted in and first authored by investigators from North America. These articles were published in journals focused on general public health (n = 20), drug use and addiction (n = 18), and infectious disease or HIV (n = 15). Most original research articles (n = 60) employed quantitative methods. Unlike scholarship from other disciplines, specifically the controversial "Deaths of Despair" (DoD) framework, most research on opioid-related overdose syndemics fails to fully articulate the macro-structural drivers of localized disease clustering. Instead, the syndemics scholarship emphasizes the clinical manifestations of opioid and substance use, illustrating a problem in translation at the heart of syndemic theory. Moreover, syndemics scholarship on opioid impacts remains largely disconnected from the wider DoD discourse, which represents a missed opportunity for equity-oriented research. Re-directing attention to the sociopolitical forces that shape opioid-related overdose syndemics is necessary to prevent future commercially-driven health crises and repair lives harmed by these deadly syndemics.

e-Delphi Study: Expert Consensus on the Needs and Resources Available to Family Caregivers of Individuals with Substance Use Disorder

Family caregivers of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) experience a significant burden and have few evidence-based resources available.

To obtain a consensus of expert views on the needs, and resources available, to family caregivers of individuals with SUD given the COVID-19 pandemic and other sociopolitical factors.

Quantitative design using the Classic e-Delphi method of multiple iterations of questioning to reach a consensus among expert panelists. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a multidisciplinary, nationwide panel of SUD experts from professional contacts, professional organization list servers, websites relevant to support groups for family caregivers, flyers, and word of mouth. In round 1 panelists (n = 96) responded to open-ended questions about the support provided to family caregivers, and the additional needs of family caregivers. In subsequent rounds, the panel rated collated responses in terms of agreement (n = 54) and importance (n = 48).

Thematic content analysis identified ten needs in the resources available to family caregivers. Consensus was obtained across thematic categories and the remaining items were ranked according to importance.

Participatory-based SUD research that includes the expertise of healthcare providers, support leaders, and family caregivers is necessary to develop evidence-based interventions to increase caregiver resilience and facilitate coping. Several clear conclusions that address social and structural determinants of health emerged, including the need for increased access to healthcare and community services, more self-care strategies for families, and focused public advocacy to reduce SUD-related stigma.

Prevalence and factors associated with substance use among HIV positive youth attending HIV care and treatment centers in Dodoma, Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Substance use among people living with HIV is associated with poor health, social, and psychological outcomes. This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and associated factors among youth attending HIV care and treatment centers (CTCs) in Dodoma, Tanzania.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Dodoma, Tanzania, from February to April 2020 among youth aged 15-24 attending HIV CTCs. Data was collected using sociodemographic, WHO ASSIST Version 3.0, BDI II, and SERAD questionnaires. Data analysis was done using Stata 17. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize continuous and categorical variables. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors independently associated with substance use.

RESULTS

The prevalence of substance use was relatively low (6.6%). Older youth (20 to 24 years) were 2% less likely to use substances compared to the younger ones (15 to 19 years) (AOR: 0.07; 95% CI 0.01, 0.83). There were statistically significant decreasing odds of substance use with every year increase in age at HIV diagnosis (OR: 1.66; 95% CI 1.14, 2.41). Being unemployed was statistically significantly associated with decreased odds of substance use among this population (OR: 0.03; 95% CI 0.02, 0.33). Youth who had detectable viral loads were significantly more likely to use substances compared to those with undetectable viral loads (AOR: 12.9; 95% CI 1.07, 156.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the low prevalence of substance use found in this study, it is important to note that late age of HIV diagnosis, employment, and detectable viral load negatively impacted HIV positive youth with regards to substance use. It is recommended that CTCs emphasize routine screening for substance use among youth who have detectable viral loads.

From innovative applications of the effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial design to the dissemination, implementation, effectiveness, sustainment, economics, and level-of-scaling hybrid trial design

To address the enduring gap between research and practice, there is a need to improve the speed and efficiency of research across the translational research spectrum. In 2012, the effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial design (HTD) was codified as a design with the potential to improve the speed and efficiency of translation, especially as part of T2 (clinical research) translational research. Building on this and other recent efforts to stimulate greater use of this novel HTD, the current article highlights an innovative application of each effectiveness-implementation HTD type. The completed application of the Type 1 effectiveness-implementation HTD tested the effectiveness of a clinical intervention for reducing HIV viral load and retaining people with HIV in care, as well as conducted a longitudinal mixed-methods examination to test for significant changes over time in three key measures of context, and economic evaluation of the clinical intervention. The completed application of the Type 2 effectiveness-implementation HTD used a dual-randomized design to simultaneously test the effectiveness of a clinical intervention for addressing substance use disorder among people with HIV and effectiveness of a blended strategy called the Implementation and Sustainment Facilitation (ISF) Strategy. This Type 2 hybrid trial was also innovative due to its focus on both sustainment and economic outcomes. The innovative Type 3 application (funded in 2008 and completed in 2012) tested the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using pay-for-performance to improve both implementation outcomes and client outcomes. This article also codifies a HTD called the Dissemination, Implementation, effectiveness, Sustainment, Economics, and Level-of-scaling (DIeSEL) HTD.

[The Delphi technique: Methodology, variants and usage examples]

In the field of medicine and health sciences, Delphi methods are applied mainly in the exploratory or evaluative phases of a research process. Explicit and implicit knowledge of respected experts from research and practice is systematically synthesized. Originally developed as a method for structuring a group communication process, Delphi techniques have been established in the health sector as a consensus method. The findings are used to improve the evidence and acceptance of planned interventions or necessary standards or guidelines and to increase the probability of successful implementation in practice. However, different variants of Delphi methods have been developed in recent years, which are systematically contrasted and reflected in this paper with regard to key epistemological and methodological research activities. Based on this overview, researchers should be enabled to select the most suitable Delphi technique for their own research questions and research endeavors.

Patients' perspectives of medications for addiction treatment in HIV clinics: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

While substance use disorders (SUD) disproportionately impact people with HIV (PWH), HIV clinics inconsistently provide evidence-based medications for addiction treatment (MAT). Patient receptivity to MAT is critical to enhance addiction treatment in these settings. However, we know little from patients about how to best integrate MAT into HIV clinics.

METHODS

This qualitative study used four focus groups informed by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework to identify barriers and facilitators to receiving opioid, alcohol, and tobacco use disorder care in HIV clinics. The study population included 28 patients with HIV and SUD receiving care at one of four HIV clinics in the northeastern United States. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed for content analysis. The study also performed a brief survey assessing demographics and behaviors.

RESULTS

Focus groups revealed several major themes related to MAT in HIV clinics. Barriers included stigma around MAT, knowledge deficits about available MAT options and the impact of substance use on PWH, concerns about medication side effects, substance use screening without adequate clinician follow-up, and peers who discouraged MAT. Facilitators included recognition of substance use as a threat to overall health, integrated care from HIV clinicians, and support for addiction treatment from peers with lived experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Efforts to enhance MAT in HIV clinics should include patient education to help them recognize addiction as a chronic disease with available medication treatment options; clinician and staff training to promote integrated, multidisciplinary screening and treatment; and thoughtful inclusion of peers with lived experience.

Interventions for Integrating Behavioral Health Services into HIV Clinical Care: A Narrative Review

The integration of behavioral health services within human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care settings holds promise for improving substance use, mental health, and HIV-related health outcomes for people with HIV. As part of an initiative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s HIV/AIDS Bureau, we conducted a narrative review of interventions focused on behavioral health integration (BHI) in HIV care in the United States (US). Our literature search yielded 19 intervention studies published between 2010 and 2021. We categorized the interventions under 6 approaches: collaborative care; screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT); patient-reported outcomes (PROs); onsite psychological consultation; integration of addiction specialists; and integration of buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NX) treatment. All intervention approaches appeared feasible to implement in diverse HIV care settings and most showed improvements in behavioral health outcomes; however, measurement of HIV outcomes was limited. Future research studies of BHI interventions should evaluate HIV outcomes and assess facilitators and barriers to intervention uptake.

The Setting-Intervention Fit of Nine Evidence-Based Interventions for Substance Use Disorders Within HIV Service Organizations Across the United States: Results of a National Stakeholder-Engaged Real-Time Delphi Study

BACKGROUND

Given substance use disorders (SUDs) among people with HIV are highly prevalent, integrating SUD services within HIV service settings is needed to help end the HIV epidemic. In this study, we assessed the setting-intervention fit (SIF) of 9 evidence-based SUD interventions: acamprosate, disulfiram, oral naltrexone, injectable naltrexone, oral buprenorphine, injectable buprenorphine, contingency management, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

SETTING

Clinical and nonclinical HIV service organizations (HSOs) in the United States.

METHODS

In May 2020, a stakeholder-engaged real-time Delphi was completed with 202 HSOs. HSO respondents rated the extent to which each SUD intervention was fundable, implementable, retainable, sustainable, scalable, and timely for their HSO, and these 6 items were summed into an SIF score (possible range of 0-18).

RESULTS

Motivational interviewing had the highest average SIF score (11.42), with SIF scores above the midpoint (9.5) for clinical (11.51) and nonclinical HSOs (11.36). For nonclinical HSOs, none of the other interventions were above the midpoint. For clinical HSOs, the average SIF scores were above the midpoint for CBT (10.97) and oral buprenorphine (9.51). Multivariate regression analyses, which controlled for characteristics of the HSO respondent, revealed geographic region of the United States and whether the HSO currently offered any substance use services as 2 of the best predictors of SIF scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Notwithstanding the need to improve the SIF for the other evidence-based SUD interventions, motivational interviewing, CBT, and oral buprenorphine are currently the evidence-based SUD interventions with greatest perceived fit for integration within HSOs in the United States.

Daily Marijuana Use Predicts HIV Seroconversion Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Atlanta, GA

We evaluated whether different types of substance use predicted HIV seroconversion among a cohort of 449 Black men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). A community-based sample was recruited in Atlanta, GA between December 2012 and November 2014. Participants completed a survey and were tested for STIs (Chlamydia and gonorrhoeae using urine samples and rectal swabs) at baseline. HIV testing was conducted at 12-months post enrollment. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between substance use and HIV seroconversion. By 12-month follow-up, 5.3% (n = 24) of participants seroconverted. In multivariable analyses, daily marijuana use was positively associated with HIV seroconversion (aOR 3.07, 95% CI 1.11-8.48, P = 0.030). HIV incidence was high and daily marijuana use was associated with a more than threefold increased odds of HIV seroconversion among a community-based cohort of Black MSM and TGW.