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Koester KA, Colasanti JA, McNulty MC, Dance K, Erguera XA, Tsuzuki MD, Johnson MO, Sauceda JA, Montgomery E, Schneider J, Christopoulos KA. Assessing readiness to implement long-acting injectable HIV antiretroviral therapy: provider and staff perspectives. Implement Sci Commun 2023; 4:128. [PMID: 37858272 PMCID: PMC10588099 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-023-00506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI-ART) represents the next innovation in HIV therapy. Pre-implementation research is needed to develop effective strategies to ensure equitable access to LAI-ART to individuals living with HIV. METHODS We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with providers and staff affiliated with HIV clinics in San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta to understand barriers to and facilitators of LAI-ART implementation. Participants also completed a short survey about implementation intentions. FGDs were held via video conference, recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using domains associated with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). RESULTS Between September 2020 and April 2021, we led 10 FDGs with 49 participants, of whom ~60% were prescribing providers. Organizational readiness for implementing change was high, with 85% agreeing to being committed to figuring out how to implement LAI-ART. While responses were influenced by the unique inner and outer resources available in each setting, several common themes, including implementation mechanisms, dominated: (1) optimism and enthusiasm about LAI-ART was contingent on ensuring equitable access to LAI-ART; (2) LAI-ART shifts the primary responsibility of ART adherence from the patient to the clinic; and (3) existing clinic systems require strengthening to meet the needs of patients with adherence challenges. Current systems in all sites could support the use of LAI-ART in a limited number of stable patients. Scale-up and equitable use would be challenging or impossible without additional personnel. Participants outlined programmatic elements necessary to realize equitable access including centralized tracking of patients, capacity for in-depth, hands-on outreach, and mobile delivery of LAI-ART. Sites further specified unknown logistical impacts on implementation related to billing/payer source as well as shipping and drug storage. CONCLUSIONS Among these HIV care sites, clinic readiness to offer LAI-ART to a subset of patients is high. The main challenges to implementation include concerns about unequal access and a recognition that strengthening the clinic system is critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Koester
- Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA.
| | - Jonathan A Colasanti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Moira C McNulty
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kaylin Dance
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xavier A Erguera
- Division of HIV, ID and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Manami Diaz Tsuzuki
- Division of HIV, ID and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mallory O Johnson
- Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
| | - John A Sauceda
- Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
| | - Elizabeth Montgomery
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John Schneider
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katerina A Christopoulos
- Division of HIV, ID and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Langdon KJ, Hitch AE, Collins AB, Beckwith CG, Becker S, Tashima K, Rich JD. Integrating long-acting injectable treatment to improve medication adherence among persons living with HIV and opioid use disorder: study protocol. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2023; 18:60. [PMID: 37838707 PMCID: PMC10576282 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-023-00418-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been effective at reducing mortality rates of people with HIV. However, despite its effectiveness, people who use drugs face barriers to maintaining ART adherence. Receipt of opioid agonist treatment, in the context of HIV care, is associated with medication adherence and decreased HIV viral loads. Recent pharmacological advancements have led to the development of novel long-acting, injectable, medications for both HIV (cabotegravir co-administered with rilpivirine) and OUD (extended-release buprenorphine). These therapies have the potential to dramatically improve adherence by eliminating the need for daily pill-taking. Despite the extensive evidence base supporting long-acting injectable medications for both HIV and OUD, and clinical guidelines supporting integrated care provision, currently little is known about how these medications may be optimally delivered to this population. This paper presents the study design for the development of a clinical protocol to guide the delivery of combined treatment for HIV and OUD using long-acting injectable medications. METHODS The study aims are to: (1) develop a clinical protocol to guide the delivery of combined LAI for HIV and OUD by conducting in-depth interviews with prospective patients, clinical content experts, and other key stakeholders; and (2) conduct This single group, open pilot trial protocol to assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety among patients diagnosed with HIV and OUD. Throughout all phases of the study, information on patient-, provider-, and organizational-level variables will be collected to inform future implementation. DISCUSSION Findings from this study will inform the development of a future study to conduct a fully-powered Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten J Langdon
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, 139 Point Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, USA.
- Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health, Providence, USA.
| | - Anthony E Hitch
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Alexandra B Collins
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, USA
| | - Curt G Beckwith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University and The Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals, Providence, USA
| | - Sara Becker
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
| | - Karen Tashima
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University and The Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals, Providence, USA
| | - Josiah D Rich
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University and The Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals, Providence, USA
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