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Lujintanon S, Eshun‐Wilson I, Tourneau NL, Beres L, Schwartz S, Baral S, Thompson R, Underwood A, Fox B, Geng EH, Kemp CG. Implementation strategies to improve HIV care cascade outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review from 2014 to 2021. J Int AIDS Soc 2024; 27 Suppl 1:e26263. [PMID: 38965975 PMCID: PMC11224579 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26263] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic and manage limited resources, optimized implementation strategies are needed to enhance the efficiency of the HIV response. Assessing strategy usage to date could identify research gaps and inform future implementation efforts. We conducted a systematic review to describe the features and distributions of published implementation strategies attempting to improve HIV treatment service delivery and outcomes. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL and screened abstracts and full texts published between 1 January 2014 and 27 August 2021, for English-language studies conducted in LMICs that described the implementation of HIV intervention and reported at least one HIV care cascade outcome, ranging from HIV testing to viral suppression. Implementation strategies were inductively specified, characterized by unique combinations of actor, action and action target, and summarized based on existing implementation strategy taxonomies. All strategies included in this study were independently reviewed to ensure accuracy and consistency. RESULTS We identified 44,126 abstracts and reviewed 1504 full-text manuscripts. Among 485 included studies, 83% were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa; the rest were conducted in South-East Asia and Western Pacific (12%), and the Americas (8%). A total of 7253 unique implementation strategies were identified, including changing health service delivery (48%) and providing capacity building and support strategies (34%). Healthcare providers and researchers led 59% and 28% of the strategies, respectively. People living with HIV and their communities (62%) and healthcare providers (38%) were common strategy targets. Strategies attempting to change governance, financial arrangements and implementation processes were rarely reported. DISCUSSION We identified a range of published implementation strategies that addressed HIV cascade outcomes, though some key gaps exist. We may need to expand the application of implementation strategies to ensure that all stakeholders are meaningfully involved to support equitable implementation efforts across the geographic regions and target populations, and to optimize implementation outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Some health service delivery and capacity building and support strategies have been most commonly used to date. Future research and implementation may incorporate a more diverse range of strategies and detailed reporting on their usage to inform improved HIV responses globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sita Lujintanon
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ingrid Eshun‐Wilson
- Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of Medicine in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Noelle Le Tourneau
- Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of Medicine in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Laura Beres
- Department of International HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sheree Schwartz
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Stefan Baral
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ryan Thompson
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ashley Underwood
- Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of Medicine in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Branson Fox
- Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of Medicine in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Elvin H. Geng
- Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of Medicine in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Christopher G. Kemp
- Department of International HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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Mariani C, Borgonovo F, Gerbi M, Rizzardini G, Capetti AF. Unexpected CD4 decay, hidden adherence gaps, resilience, and the need for long-acting therapy in a single HIV outpatients' cohort. AIDS Care 2024; 36:864-869. [PMID: 38170878 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2298768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
This single-centre, single-cohort study examines hidden non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in a setting of persistent optimal viral suppression but concordant absolute and percent CD4 decay by >10% from the previous test. After the finding of important drug holidays in two virologically suppressed patients, between January 2021 and January 2022 all PLWH who fulfilled CD4 decay criteria were asked for how long therapy was interrupted, how many days before re-testing CD4 and HIV RNA was it resumed and the reason for interruption. Of 668 HIV-infected subjects, 61 fulfilled the pre-specified criteria for significant CD4 decay and 15 (2.25% of the total, 25% of the CD4 decay group) admitted long-lasting treatment interruptions, compensated by treatment resumption before the subsequent testing. Eleven treatment interruptions exceeded 28 days, and none was shorter than 15 days. CD4 recovery was worse at 6 months in non-adherent subjects (-0.5 vs + 16/mmc, p < 0.0001) and in non adherence vs immune decay time-related with COVID-19 (0 vs + 22/mmc, p < 0.0001). Reasons for interrupting treatment were travel, psychological, poverty-related, addiction and sentimental sphere problems. Long-acting regimens, with stringent control of precision in timely administration, may protect PLWH from damaging their health status and possibly transmit HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mariani
- First Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Borgonovo
- First Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Gerbi
- First Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuliano Rizzardini
- First Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Whitwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Amedeo F Capetti
- First Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
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Tonin FS, Alves da Costa F, Fernandez-Llimos F. Impact of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and some injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs: an overview and evidence gap mapping. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2024; 19:9. [PMID: 38310293 PMCID: PMC10838443 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-024-00439-9] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to synthetize the evidence on the effectiveness of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) through a comprehensive overview of systematic reviews and evidence gap mapping. METHODS A systematic review was conducted with searches in PubMed and Scopus to identify systematic reviews assessing the impact of interventions aimed at reducing the harms associated with injectable drug use. The overall characteristics of the studies were extracted and their methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR-2. An evidence gap map was constructed, highlighting the most frequently reported outcomes by intervention (CRD42023387713). RESULTS Thirty-three systematic reviews were included. Of these, 14 (42.2%) assessed the impact of needle/syringe exchange programs (NSEP) and 11 (33.3%) examined opioid agonist therapy (OAT). These interventions are likely to be associated with reductions of HIV/HCV incidence (10-40% risk reduction for NSEP; 50-60% for OAT) and sharing injecting paraphernalia (50% for NSEP, 25-85% for OAT), particularly when combined (moderate evidence). Behavioral/educational interventions were assessed in 12 reviews (36.4%) with most authors in favor/partially in favor of the use of these approaches (moderate evidence). Take-home naloxone programs and supervised-injection facilities were each assessed in two studies (6.1%), which reported inconclusive results (limited/inconsistent evidence). Most authors reported high levels of heterogeneity and risk of bias. Other interventions and outcomes were inadequately reported. Most systematic reviews presented low or critically low quality. CONCLUSION The evidence is sufficient to support the effectiveness of OAT, NSEP and their combination in reducing blood-borne infection transmission and certain injecting behaviors among PWID. However, evidence of other harm minimizations interventions in different settings and for some outcomes remain insufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda S Tonin
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filipa Alves da Costa
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Fernando Fernandez-Llimos
- Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, (UCIBIO-i4HB) Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Mbuagbaw L, Fernando S, Lee C, Owino M, Youssef C, Snow ME. Barriers and facilitators to improving the cascade of HIV care in Ontario: a mixed method study. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:48. [PMID: 38200516 PMCID: PMC10782539 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10481-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engagement in care is important for people living with HIV (PLH) to achieve optimal outcomes. Several strategies have been developed to improve client flow through the HIV care cascade, specifically targeting initiation of treatment, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), retention in care, and engagement in care. We have previously identified effective care cascade strategies in a systematic review. Initiation of ART could be improved by mobile health interventions, and changes in healthcare delivery. Adherence to ART could be improved by mobile health interventions, incentives, counselling, and psychotherapy. Retention in care could be improved by mobile health interventions, incentives, education, and electronic interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate barriers and facilitators to implementing these effective interventions in HIV clinics in Ontario, Canada. METHODS We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed methods study. In the quantitative strand, we administered a survey to health workers who provide care to PLH to identify barriers and facilitators. In the qualitative strand, we conducted in-depth interviews informed by the theoretical domains framework (TDF) with health workers and with PLH to explain our quantitative findings. Qualitative and quantitative data were merged to create meta-inferences. RESULTS Twenty health workers from 8 clinics in 9 cities in Ontario took the survey. Nine PLH and 10 health workers participated in the qualitative interviews. Clinics in Ontario implemented all the effective interventions identified from the literature for initiation of treatment, adherence to ART, and retention in care despite concerns about resources. Barriers to physical and financial access to care, the workload for tailored care, and expertise were identified by both health workers and PLH. Key facilitators were virtual care and client preparedness through education and peer support. CONCLUSION Clinics in Ontario appear to implement several evidence-based strategies to improve PLH engagement. There is a need for more health workers with skills to address unique PLH needs. Virtual care is beneficial to both health workers and PLH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S4L8, Canada.
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St. Josep's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Development of Best Practices in Health (CDBPH), Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Saranee Fernando
- Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population & Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chloe Lee
- McMaster University, Bachelors of Health Sciences Program, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Maureen Owino
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment, Toronto, ON, Canada
- York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cynthia Youssef
- McMaster University, Bachelors of Health Sciences Program, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - M Elizabeth Snow
- Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population & Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Odhiambo AJ, O’Campo P, Nelson LRE, Forman L, Grace D. Structural violence and the uncertainty of viral undetectability for African, Caribbean and Black people living with HIV in Canada: an institutional ethnography. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:33. [PMID: 36797746 PMCID: PMC9935247 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-022-01792-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomedical advances in healthcare and antiretroviral treatment or therapy (ART) have transformed HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease. Studies demonstrate that people living with HIV who adhere to antiretroviral therapy can achieve viral suppression or undetectability, which is fundamental for optimizing health outcomes, decreasing HIV-related mortality and morbidity, and preventing HIV transmission. African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities in Canada remain structurally disadvantaged and bear a disproportionate burden of HIV despite biomedical advancements in HIV treatment and prevention. This institutional ethnography orients to the concept of 'structural violence' to illuminate how inequities shape the daily experiences of ACB people living with HIV across the HIV care cascade. We conducted textual analysis and in-depth interviews with ACB people living with HIV (n = 20) and health professionals including healthcare providers, social workers, frontline workers, and health policy actors (n = 15). Study findings produce a cumulative understanding that biomedical HIV discourses and practices ignore structural violence embedded in Canada's social fabric, including legislation, policies and institutional practices that produce inequities and shape the social world of Black communities. Findings show that inequities in structural and social determinants of health such as food insecurity, financial and housing instability, homelessness, precarious immigration status, stigma, racial discrimination, anti-Black racism, criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, health systems barriers and privacy concerns intersect to constrain engagement and retention in HIV healthcare and ART adherence, contributing to the uncertainty of achieving and maintaining undetectability and violating their right to health. Biomedical discourses and practices, and inequities reduce Black people to a stigmatized, pathologized, and impoverished detectable viral underclass. Black people perceived as nonadherent to ART and maintain detectable viral loads are considered "bad" patients while privileged individuals who achieve undetectability are considered "good" patients. An effective response to ending HIV/AIDS requires implementing policies and institutional practices that address inequities in structural and social determinants of health among ACB people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apondi J. Odhiambo
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Patricia O’Campo
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,grid.415502.7St, Michael’s Hospital, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - La Ron E. Nelson
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,grid.415502.7St, Michael’s Hospital, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Lisa Forman
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Daniel Grace
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
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Wirtz AL, Logie CH, Mbuagbaw L. Addressing Health Inequities in Digital Clinical Trials: A Review of Challenges and Solutions From the Field of HIV Research. Epidemiol Rev 2022; 44:87-109. [PMID: 36124659 PMCID: PMC10362940 DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials are considered the gold standard for establishing efficacy of health interventions, thus determining which interventions are brought to scale in health care and public health programs. Digital clinical trials, broadly defined as trials that have partial to full integration of technology across implementation, interventions, and/or data collection, are valued for increased efficiencies as well as testing of digitally delivered interventions. Although recent reviews have described the advantages and disadvantages of and provided recommendations for improving scientific rigor in the conduct of digital clinical trials, few to none have investigated how digital clinical trials address the digital divide, whether they are equitably accessible, and if trial outcomes are potentially beneficial only to those with optimal and consistent access to technology. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), among other health conditions, disproportionately affects socially and economically marginalized populations, raising questions of whether interventions found to be efficacious in digital clinical trials and subsequently brought to scale will sufficiently and consistently reach and provide benefit to these populations. We reviewed examples from HIV research from across geographic settings to describe how digital clinical trials can either reproduce or mitigate health inequities via the design and implementation of the digital clinical trials and, ultimately, the programs that result. We discuss how digital clinical trials can be intentionally designed to prevent inequities, monitor ongoing access and utilization, and assess for differential impacts among subgroups with diverse technology access and use. These findings can be generalized to many other health fields and are practical considerations for donors, investigators, reviewers, and ethics committees engaged in digital clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Wirtz
- Correspondence to Dr. Andrea L. Wirtz, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 (e-mail: )
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Jonas K, Zani B, Ramraj T, Chirinda W, Jama N, Basera W, McClinton Appollis T, Pass D, Govindasamy D, Mukumbang FC, Mathews C, Nicol E. Service delivery models for enhancing linkage to and retention in HIV care services for adolescent girls and young women and adolescent boys and young men: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060778. [PMID: 36123080 PMCID: PMC9486299 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent advances in the HIV care continuum have shown that an individual diagnosed with HIV should be initiated on antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible regardless of the CD4 count levels and retained in HIV care services. Studies have reported large losses in the HIV continuum of care, before and after the era of universal test and treat. Several systematic reviews have reported on the strategies for improving linkage to and retention in HIV treatment and care. The purpose of this overview of systematic reviews is to identify HIV care interventions or service delivery models (SDMs) and synthesise evidence on the effects of these to link adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) to care and retain them in care. We also aim to highlight gaps in the evidence on interventions and SDMs to improve linkage and retention in HIV care of AGYW and ABYM. METHODS AND ANALYSIS An electronic search of four online databases: PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Web of Science will be performed to identify systematic reviews on the effects of linkage to and retention in HIV care interventions or SDMs for AGYW aged 15-24 years and ABYM aged 15-35 years. Our findings on the effects of interventions and SDMs will be interpreted considering the intervention and or SDMs' effectiveness by the time period, setting and population of interest. Two or more authors will independently screen articles for inclusion using a priori criteria. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval is not required for this study as only published secondary data will be used. Our findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication, conference abstracts and through presentations to stakeholders and other community fora. The findings from this overview of systematic reviews will inform mixed-methods operations research on HIV intervention programming and delivery of HIV care services for AGYW and ABYM in South Africa. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42020177933.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Jonas
- Health Systems Research, South African Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa
- Adolescent Health Research, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Babalwa Zani
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Trisha Ramraj
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council Durban, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council Durban, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Witness Chirinda
- Burden of Disease Research, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Ngcwalisa Jama
- Burden of Disease Research, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Wisdom Basera
- Burden of Disease Research, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | | | - Desiree Pass
- Burden of Disease Research, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Darshini Govindasamy
- Health Systems Research, South African Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa
| | | | - Catherine Mathews
- Health Systems Research, South African Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa
- Adolescent Health Research, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Edward Nicol
- Burden of Disease Research, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
- University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
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Nicolau IA, Shokoohi M, McBane JE, Pogany L, Popovic N, Nicholson V, Hillier S, Aran N, Brophy J, Burt K, Cox J, de Pokomandy A, Kakkar F, Kelly D, Kerkerian G, Kogilwaimath S, Kroch A, Dias Lima V, Linthwaite B, Mbuagbaw L, McClarty L, Turvey S, Owino M, Martin C, Hogg RS, Loutfy M. A two-day workshop reviewing Canadian provincial and national HIV care cascade indicators, reporting, challenges, and recommendations. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CANADA = JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE L'ASSOCIATION POUR LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE ET L'INFECTIOLOGIE CANADA 2022; 7:247-268. [PMID: 36337608 PMCID: PMC9629730 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2022-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HIV care cascade is an indicators-framework used to assess achievement of HIV clinical targets including HIV diagnosis, HIV care initiation and retention, initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and attainment of viral suppression for people living with HIV. METHODS The HIV Care Cascade Research Development Team at the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network Clinical Care and Management Core hosted a two-day virtual workshop to present HIV care cascade data collected nationally from local and provincial clinical settings and national cohort studies. The article summarizes the workshop presentations including the indicators used and available findings and presents the discussed challenges and recommendations. RESULTS Identified challenges included (1) inconsistent HIV care cascade indicator definitions, (2) variability between the use of nested UNAIDS's targets and HIV care cascade indicators, (3) variable analytic approaches based on differing data sources, (4) reporting difficulties in some regions due to a lack of integration across data platforms, (5) lack of robust data on the first stage of the care cascade at the sub-national level, and (6) inability to integrate key socio-demographic data to estimate population-specific care cascade shortfalls. CONCLUSION There were four recommendations: standardization of HIV care cascade indicators and analyses, additional funding for HIV care cascade data collection, database maintenance and analyses at all levels, qualitative interviews and case studies characterizing the stories behind the care cascade findings, and employing targeted positive-action programs to increase engagement of key populations in each HIV care cascade stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana A Nicolau
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mostafa Shokoohi
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joanne E McBane
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa Pogany
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nashira Popovic
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Valerie Nicholson
- Communities, Alliances & Networks (CAAN), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Care (BC-CfE), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sean Hillier
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Health Policy and Management, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Niloufar Aran
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Care (BC-CfE), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Brophy
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kimberley Burt
- HIV Program, Eastern Health, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Joseph Cox
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alexandra de Pokomandy
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fatima Kakkar
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Deborah Kelly
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Geneviève Kerkerian
- Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Siddharth Kogilwaimath
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Abigail Kroch
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Viviane Dias Lima
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Care (BC-CfE), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Blake Linthwaite
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Maureen Owino
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carrie Martin
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Communities, Alliances & Networks (CAAN), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Concordia, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Robert S Hogg
- The Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Care (BC-CfE), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mona Loutfy
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Cluver LD, Sherr L, Toska E, Zhou S, Mellins CA, Omigbodun O, Li X, Bojo S, Thurman T, Ameyan W, Desmond C, Willis N, Laurenzi C, Nombewu A, Tomlinson M, Myeketsi N. From surviving to thriving: integrating mental health care into HIV, community, and family services for adolescents living with HIV. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2022; 6:582-592. [PMID: 35750063 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(22)00101-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents are a crucial generation, with the potential to bring future social and economic success for themselves and their countries. More than 90% of adolescents living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa, where their mental health is set against a background of poverty, familial stress, service gaps, and an HIV epidemic that is now intertwined with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Series paper, we review systematic reviews, randomised trials, and cohort studies of adolescents living with and affected by HIV. We provide a detailed overview of mental health provision and collate evidence for future approaches. We find that the mental health burden for adolescents living with HIV is high, contributing to low quality of life and challenges with adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Mental health provision is scarce, infrastructure and skilled providers are missing, and leadership is needed. Evidence of effective interventions is emerging, including specific provisions for mental health (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy, problem-solving, mindfulness, and parenting programmes) and broader provisions to prevent drivers of poor mental health (eg, social protection and violence prevention). We provide evidence of longitudinal associations between unconditional government grants and improved mental health. Combinations of economic and social interventions (known as cash plus care) could increase mental health benefits. Scalable delivery models include task sharing, primary care integration, strengthening families, and a pyramid of provision that differentiates between levels of need, from prevention to the care of severe disorders. A turning point has now been reached, from which complacency cannot persist. We conclude that there is substantial need, available frameworks, and a growing evidence base for action while infrastructure and skill acquisition is built.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie D Cluver
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Lorraine Sherr
- Institute of Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elona Toska
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Siyanai Zhou
- Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Claude-Ann Mellins
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olayinka Omigbodun
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Samuel Bojo
- Agency for Research and Development Initiative, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Tonya Thurman
- Highly Vulnerable Children Research Center, Cape Town, South Africa; Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Wole Ameyan
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Chris Desmond
- Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Christina Laurenzi
- Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Amahle Nombewu
- Teen Advisory Group, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mark Tomlinson
- Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University, Belfast, UK
| | - Noxolo Myeketsi
- Department of Information Systems, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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10
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Wheatley MM, Knowlton GS, Butler M, Enns EA. Cost-Effectiveness of HIV Retention and Re-engagement Interventions in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Literature Review. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:2159-2168. [PMID: 35076798 PMCID: PMC10478035 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03561-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Engagement in lifelong HIV care is critical for both patient and public health, yet there are limited resources to invest in improving HIV outcomes. We systematically reviewed evidence on the cost-effectiveness of retention and re-engagement interventions. We searched five databases for peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2020. We assessed reporting and methods quality, extracted data on target populations, interventions, and cost-effectiveness, and evaluated overall strength of evidence. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, and eight had moderate-high quality. Cost-effectiveness estimates ranged from cost-saving to over $1,000,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Of the 73 cost-effectiveness ratios reported, 64% were < $100,000/QALY gained. Interventions were more likely to be cost-effective when targeted to high-risk groups, implemented in locations where baseline retention levels were low, and when used in combination with other high-impact HIV interventions (such as prevention). Overall, existing evidence is moderately strong that retention and/or re-engagement interventions can be cost-effective in high-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo M Wheatley
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729 Mayo, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Gregory S Knowlton
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729 Mayo, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Mary Butler
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729 Mayo, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Eva A Enns
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729 Mayo, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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11
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Mashamba-Thompson T, Lessells R, Dzinamarira T, Drain P, Thabane L. Co-creation of HIVST delivery approaches for improving urban men’s engagement with HIV services in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal: nominal group technique in intervention development. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:121. [PMID: 35681229 PMCID: PMC9178223 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01083-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV self-testing (HIVST) is one of the recommended approaches for HIV testing services, particularly for helping reach populations who would not normally access facility-based HIV testing. Key stakeholder engagement is paramount in tailoring health interventions to ensure uptake by target populations. Objective The main objective of this study was to collaborate with key stakeholder in the co-creation of an acceptable HIVST delivery strategies to help improve urban men’s engagement with HIV services. Methods We invited key stakeholders for urban men’s HIV services to participate in a co-creation workshop aimed at developing HIVST delivery approaches for urban men, using eThekwini municipality as a study setting. We conducted purposive sampling to include health care users and health care providers, representing a range of views across the public sector and voluntary sector. We employed the nominal group technique (NGT) method for data collection. The NGT workshop was conducted in two consecutives: phase 1 was focused on determining barriers for men’s engagement with the current/facility-based HIV testing services; phase 2 was aimed at determining HIVST delivery strategies. Results Participants identified the following factors as the most important barriers to uptake of HIV testing services by urban men: stigma, ignorance about the importance of testing, and testing process as well as fear of positive test results. Key stakeholders suggested internal motivation strategies as a potentially effective approach to support HIVST delivery strategy. Guided by the NGT results, we designed a HIVST delivery strategy that is supported by a risk communication approach. Conclusion The NGT enabled successful collaboration with key stakeholders in the co-creation of HIVST delivery strategies to guide implementation and strategy improve urban men’s engagement with HIV services. A follow-up study to evaluate the feasibility of implementing these approaches is recommended.
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12
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Odhiambo AJ, Forman L, Nelson LE, O'Campo P, Grace D. Legislatively Excluded, Medically Uninsured and Structurally Violated: The Social Organization of HIV Healthcare for African, Caribbean and Black Immigrants with Precarious Immigration Status in Toronto, Canada. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:847-865. [PMID: 35380883 PMCID: PMC9152595 DOI: 10.1177/10497323221082958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
African, Caribbean and Black immigrants face persistent legislative barriers to accessing healthcare services in Canada. This Institutional Ethnography examines how structural violence and exclusionary legislative frameworks restrict the right to HIV healthcare access for many Black immigrants. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Black immigrants living with HIV (n = 20) and healthcare workers in Toronto, Canada (n = 15), and analyzed relevant policy texts. Findings revealed that exclusionary immigration and healthcare legislation shaping and regulating immigrants' right to health restricted access to public resources, including health insurance and HIV healthcare and related services, subjecting Black immigrants with precarious status to structural violence. Healthcare providers and administrative staff worked as healthcare gatekeepers. These barriers undermine public health efforts of advancing health equity and ending HIV "while leaving no one behind." We urge continued policy reforms in Canada's immigration and healthcare systems regarding HIV care access for Canada's precarious status immigrants.
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13
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Zepeda KGM, Gaspar RB, Moura COD, Santos KA, Gimbel S, Silva MMD. Meanings and significance attributed by people with HIV/aids to their lives with this virus/disease. Rev Bras Enferm 2021; 75:e20201323. [PMID: 34706046 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2020-1323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to understand the meanings and significance attributed by people with HIV/aids to the process of living with this virus/disease. METHODS qualitative and exploratory study, carried out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Grounded Theory and the Symbolic Interactionism were used. Data were collected in a semistructured interview and through non-participant observation, from August 2017 to May 2018. 29 patients participated. RESULTS living with HIV/AIDS is a social phenomenon in which it is not possible to disconnect the process of adapting to the disease from the social relations one (re)constructs during life. It also involves stigmatization, rejection, and isolation. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS understanding the meanings of this process is a positive influence for proactive behavior and resilience, not only in regard to the care concerning the presence of the virus and the uninterrupted need to adhere to medication, but also in the way to deal with the social values that reproduce previous models, which, in turn, can help improve self-knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sarah Gimbel
- University of Washington. Seatle, Estados Unidos da América
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14
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Amstutz A, Lejone TI, Khesa L, Kopo M, Kao M, Muhairwe J, Bresser M, Räber F, Klimkait T, Battegay M, Glass TR, Labhardt ND. Offering ART refill through community health workers versus clinic-based follow-up after home-based same-day ART initiation in rural Lesotho: The VIBRA cluster-randomized clinical trial. PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003839. [PMID: 34673765 PMCID: PMC8568187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) dispensing by lay workers is an important differentiated service delivery model in sub-Sahara Africa. However, patients new in care are generally excluded from such models. Home-based same-day ART initiation is becoming widespread practice, but linkage to the clinic is challenging. The pragmatic VIBRA (Village-Based Refill of ART) trial compared ART refill by existing lay village health workers (VHWs) versus clinic-based refill after home-based same-day ART initiation. METHODS AND FINDINGS The VIBRA trial is a cluster-randomized open-label clinical superiority trial conducted in 249 rural villages in the catchment areas of 20 health facilities in 2 districts (Butha-Buthe and Mokhotlong) in Lesotho. In villages (clusters) randomized to the intervention arm, individuals found to be HIV-positive during a door-to-door HIV testing campaign were offered same-day ART initiation with the option of refill by VHWs. The trained VHWs dispensed drugs and scheduled clinic visits for viral load measurement at 6 and 12 months. In villages randomized to the control arm, participants were offered same-day ART initiation with clinic-based ART refill. The primary outcome was 12-month viral suppression. Secondary endpoints included linkage and 12-month engagement in care. Analyses were intention-to-treat. The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03630549). From 16 August 2018 until 28 May 2019, 118 individuals from 108 households in 57 clusters in the intervention arm, and 139 individuals from 130 households in 60 clusters in the control arm, were enrolled (150 [58%] female; median age 36 years [interquartile range 30-48]; 200 [78%] newly diagnosed). In the intervention arm, 48/118 (41%) opted for VHW refill. At 12 months, 46/118 (39%) participants in the intervention arm and 64/139 (46%) in the control arm achieved viral suppression (adjusted risk difference -0.07 [95% CI -0.20 to 0.06]; p = 0.256). Arms were similar in linkage (adjusted risk difference 0.03 [-0.10 to 0.16]; p = 0.630), but engagement in care was non-significantly lower in the intervention arm (adjusted risk difference -0.12 [-0.23 to 0.003]; p = 0.058). Seven and 0 deaths occurred in the intervention and control arm, respectively. Of the intervention participants who did not opt for drug refill from the VHW at enrollment, 41/70 (59%) mentioned trust or conflict issues as the primary reason. Study limitations include a rather small sample size, 9% missing viral load measurements in the primary endpoint window, the low uptake of the VHW refill option in the intervention arm, and substantial migration among the study population. CONCLUSIONS The offer of village-based ART refill after same-day initiation led to similar outcomes as clinic-based refill. The intervention did not amplify the effect of home-based same-day ART initiation alone. The findings raise concerns about acceptance and safety of ART delivered by lay health workers after initiation in the community. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03630549).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Amstutz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Moniek Bresser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Thomas Klimkait
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Battegay
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tracy Renée Glass
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Niklaus Daniel Labhardt
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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15
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Whiteley LB, Olsen EM, Haubrick KK, Odoom E, Tarantino N, Brown LK. A Review of Interventions to Enhance HIV Medication Adherence. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2021; 18:443-457. [PMID: 34152554 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-021-00568-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is crucial for the successful treatment of HIV. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 45% of persons living with HIV (PLWH) have poor adherence to ART. To provide health care professionals and PLWH with effective tools for supporting adherence, researchers have investigated the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions to enhance adherence to ART. In this paper, interventional studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that examine ART adherence interventions for PLWH are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS There is great variability among interventions in terms of quality, sample, measures, and outcome characteristics. Despite a diverse and wide-ranging assortment of ART adherence interventions, consistent lessons have been learned. Interventions that focus on individual and interpersonal factors have been effective for improving ART adherence; however, the improvement in adherence tends to be short-lived. Additionally, interventions are most successful when tailored to those at risk for poor adherence. Finally, theory-based interventions are more likely to be effective than non-theory-based interventions. A variety of individual-level psychological interventions have been shown to be effective in improving ART adherence in the short term. Digital and mobile interventions have the potential to improve dissemination and implementation of these evidence-based interventions and could be used to extend intervention effects. Future interventions that address issues of accessibility, inequality, structural and institutional barriers to ART adherence should also be tested and prioritized. Implementation science frameworks can be used to assess and address issues of accessibility and systematic barriers to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Whiteley
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Elizabeth M Olsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kayla K Haubrick
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Enyonam Odoom
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Larry K Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
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16
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Duthely LM, Sanchez-Covarrubias AP, Brown MR, Thomas TE, Montgomerie EK, Dale S, Safren SA, Potter JE. Pills, PrEP, and Pals: Adherence, Stigma, Resilience, Faith and the Need to Connect Among Minority Women With HIV/AIDS in a US HIV Epicenter. Front Public Health 2021; 9:667331. [PMID: 34235129 PMCID: PMC8255796 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.667331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ending HIV/AIDS in the United States requires tailored interventions. This study is part of a larger investigation to design mCARES, a mobile technology-based, adherence intervention for ethnic minority women with HIV (MWH). Objective: To understand barriers and facilitators of care adherence (treatment and appointment) for ethnic MWH; examine the relationship between these factors across three ethnic groups; and, explore the role of mobile technologies in care adherence. Methods: Cross-sectional, mixed-methods data were collected from a cohort of African-American, Hispanic-American and Haitian-American participants. Qualitative data were collected through a focus group (n = 8) to assess barriers and facilitators to care adherence. Quantitative data (n = 48) surveyed women on depressive symptomology (PHQ-9), HIV-related stigma (HSS) and resiliency (CD-RISC25). We examined the relationships between these factors and adherence to treatment and care and across groups. Findings: Qualitative analyses revealed that barriers to treatment and appointment adherence were caregiver-related stressors (25%) and structural issues (25%); routinization (30%) and religion/spirituality (30%) promoted adherence to treatment and care. Caregiver role was both a hindrance (25%) and promoter (20%) of adherence to treatment and appointments. Quantitatively, HIV-related stigma differed by ethnic group; Haitian-Americans endorsed the highest levels while African-Americans endorsed the lowest. Depression correlated to stigma (R = 0.534; p < 0.001) and resiliency (R = −0.486; p < 0.001). Across ethnic groups, higher depressive symptomology and stigma were related to viral non-suppression (p < 0.05)—a treatment adherence marker; higher resiliency was related to viral suppression. Among Hispanic-Americans, viral non-suppression was related to depression (p < 0.05), and among African-Americans, viral suppression was related to increased resiliency (p < 0.04). Conclusion: Multiple interrelated barriers to adherence were identified. These findings on ethnic group-specific differences underscore the importance of implementing culturally-competent interventions. While privacy and confidentiality were of concern, participants suggested additional intervention features and endorsed the use of mCARES as a strategy to improve adherence to treatment and appointments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunthita M Duthely
- Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Research and Special Projects, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Alex P Sanchez-Covarrubias
- Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Megan R Brown
- Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Tanya E Thomas
- Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Emily K Montgomerie
- Miami Center for AIDS Research, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sannisha Dale
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Steven A Safren
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - JoNell E Potter
- Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Research and Special Projects, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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