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Mujugira A, Karungi B, Mugisha J, Nakyanzi A, Nampewo O, Naddunga F, Kamusiime B, Nsubuga R, Nyanzi KR, Muwonge TR, Wyatt MA, Ware NC, Gandhi M, Haberer JE. Urine tenofovir testing for real-time PrEP adherence feedback: a qualitative study involving transgender women in Uganda. J Int AIDS Soc 2024; 27:e26255. [PMID: 38695107 PMCID: PMC11063774 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adherence counselling with point-of-care (POC) drug-level feedback using a novel tenofovir assay may support pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence; however, perceptions of urine testing and its impact on adherence are not well studied. We qualitatively examined how POC tenofovir testing was experienced by transgender women (TGW) in Uganda. METHODS Within a cluster randomized trial of peer-delivered HIV self-testing, self-sampling for sexually transmitted infections and PrEP among HIV-negative TGW showing overall low PrEP prevention-effective adherence (NCT04328025), we conducted a nested qualitative sub-study of the urine POC assay among a random sample of 30 TGW (August 2021-February 2022). TGW interviews explored: (1) experiences with POC urine tenofovir testing and (2) perceptions of PrEP adherence counselling with drug-level feedback. We used an inductive content analytic approach for analysis. RESULTS Median age was 21 years (interquartile range 20-24), and 70% engaged in sex work. Four content categories describe how TGW experienced POC urine tenofovir testing: (1) Urine tenofovir testing was initially met with scepticism: Testing urine to detect PrEP initially induced anxiety, with some perceptions of being intrusive and unwarranted. With counselling, however, participants found POC testing acceptable and beneficial. (2) Alignment of urine test results and adherence behaviours: Drug-level feedback aligned with what TGW knew about their adherence. Concurrence between pill taking and tenofovir detection in urine reinforced confidence in test accuracy. (3) Interpretation of urine tenofovir results: TGW familiar with the interpretation of oral-fluid HIV self-tests knew that two lines on the test device signified positivity (presence of HIV). However, two lines on the urine test strip indicated a positive result for non-adherence (absence of tenofovir), causing confusion. Research nurses explained the difference in test interpretation to participants' satisfaction. (4) White coat dosing: Some TGW deliberately chose not to attend scheduled clinic appointments to avoid detecting their PrEP non-adherence during urine testing. They restarted PrEP before returning to clinic, a behaviour called "white coat dosing." CONCLUSIONS Incorporating POC urine testing into routine PrEP adherence counselling was acceptable and potentially beneficial for TGW but required attention to context. Additional research is needed to identify effective strategies for optimizing adherence monitoring and counselling for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mujugira
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Jackson Mugisha
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Agnes Nakyanzi
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Olivia Nampewo
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Faith Naddunga
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Brenda Kamusiime
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Rogers Nsubuga
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Kikulwe R. Nyanzi
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Timothy R. Muwonge
- The Infectious Diseases Institute LimitedMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Monique A. Wyatt
- Department of Global Health and Social MedicineHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Harvard GlobalCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Norma C. Ware
- Department of Global Health and Social MedicineHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of MedicineBrigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Monica Gandhi
- Department of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jessica E. Haberer
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Centre for Global HealthMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Patel N, Morris S, Burke L, Chow K, Pacheco D, Anderson P, Stancyzk F, Blumenthal J. No observed bidirectional effect between tenofovir diphosphate concentrations and gender-affirming hormone concentrations among transgender persons switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine to tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38646796 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Many transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals have expressed concerns about the potential for oral pre-exposure prophylaxis to affect hormonal concentrations achieved from taking gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). The purpose of this study was to understand the bidirectional effects between hormone and intraerythrocytic tenofovir diphosphate concentrations when switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) to tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) in TGD users/nonusers of GAHT. METHODS The study evaluated stored blood samples and dried blood spot cards from TGD adults without HIV who took ≥12 weeks of TDF/FTC and then switched to ≥12 weeks of TAF/FTC for pre-exposure prophylaxis. RESULTS Thirty-nine individuals met the study inclusion criteria. Regardless of sex assigned at birth and the use of GAHT, there were no significant differences in hormone concentrations when individuals taking GAHT were taking TDF/FTC and then switched to TAF/FTC. Further, there was no significant difference in intraerythrocytic tenofovir diphosphate concentrations between users and nonusers of GAHT. CONCLUSION There are no bidirectional effects between hormone and intraerythocytic tenofovir diphosphate concentrations when switching from TDF/FTC to TAF/FTC in TGD users/nonusers of GAHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimish Patel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sheldon Morris
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Leah Burke
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Karen Chow
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Deedee Pacheco
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Peter Anderson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Frank Stancyzk
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jill Blumenthal
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Restar A, Minalga BJ, Quilantang MI, Adamson T, Dusic E, van der Merwe LA, Millet G, Rosadiño D, Laguing T, Lett E, Everhart A, Phillips G, Janamnuaysook R, Seekaew P, Baker K, Ashley F, Wickersham J, Wallace SE, Operario D, Gamarel KE. Mapping Community-Engaged Implementation Strategies with Transgender Scientists, Stakeholders, and Trans-Led Community Organizations. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:160-169. [PMID: 37012537 PMCID: PMC10071255 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00656-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) represents one of the most effective methods of prevention for HIV, but remains inequitable, leaving many transgender and nonbinary (trans) individuals unable to benefit from this resource. Deploying community-engaged PrEP implementation strategies for trans populations will be crucial for ending the HIV epidemic. RECENT FINDINGS While most PrEP studies have progressed in addressing pertinent research questions about gender-affirming care and PrEP at the biomedical and clinical levels, research on how to best implement gender-affirming PrEP systems at the social, community, and structural levels remains outstanding. The science of community-engaged implementation to build gender-affirming PrEP systems must be more fully developed. Most published PrEP studies with trans people report on outcomes rather than processes, leaving out important lessons learned about how to design, integrate, and implement PrEP in tandem with gender-affirming care. The expertise of trans scientists, stakeholders, and trans-led community organizations is essential to building gender-affirming PrEP systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjee Restar
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | | | - Ma Irene Quilantang
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Tyler Adamson
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emerson Dusic
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Leigh-Ann van der Merwe
- Social, Health and Empowerment Feminist Collective of Transgender Women of Africa, East London, South Africa
| | - Greg Millet
- The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, amfAR, Washington, D.C, USA
| | | | - Tanya Laguing
- LoveYourself Inc, Manila, Philippines
- DIOSSA Inc, Taguig, Philippines
| | - Elle Lett
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Avery Everhart
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gregory Phillips
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rena Janamnuaysook
- Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tangerine Community Health Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pich Seekaew
- Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kellan Baker
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Whitman-Walker Institute, Washington, D.C, USA
| | - Florence Ashley
- Faculty of Law and Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Wickersham
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephaun E Wallace
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Don Operario
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristi E Gamarel
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Golub SA, Starbuck L, Fikslin R, Gamarel KE. Psychometric Evaluation and Predictive Validity of an Adapted Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale for PrEP. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:218-230. [PMID: 35809144 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03758-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Adherence to and sustainment of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are critical to its effectiveness. Adherence self-efficacy, i.e., confidence in one's ability to adhere to a particular medication, is a key psychological determinant of health behavior that strongly predicts HIV treatment adherence but has been understudied in PrEP research. This paper describes the psychometric evaluation and validation of the PrEP Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (PrEP-ASES), adapted from the previously validated HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (HIV-ASES). Data are drawn from two studies conducted at a community health center, one focused on gay and bisexual cisgender men and the other on transgender women. Factor analyses support a one-factor score (eigenvalue = 6.78) that explained 75.3% of the variance, with good test-retest reliability (rs > 0.40). In both studies, higher PrEP-ASES scores were associated with PrEP uptake, adherence, and sustainment. Findings support the utility of the PrEP-ASES in research and suggest the importance of addressing self-efficacy in PrEP programs and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit A Golub
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Basic and Applied Social Psychology PhD Program, Department of Psychology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Lila Starbuck
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Rachel Fikslin
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Basic and Applied Social Psychology PhD Program, Department of Psychology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristi E Gamarel
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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