Minority AIDS Initiative Retention and Re-Engagement Project

Boston University

Status: Completed

Conditions: HIV/AIDS

Treatments: Behavioral: Enhanced Peer Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01616940

U69HA23262

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether an enhanced peer intervention is effective in retaining and re-engaging at-risk people of color living with HIV/AIDS into care.

Full description

This is a multi-site longitudinal study of an enhanced peer intervention to re-engage and retain high-risk people of color living with HIV into HIV primary care and other needed medical or social services. Three demonstration sites are implementing programs in which peers are employed as part of the health care team. Peers are trained to conduct educational sessions, provide emotional support, help prepare for and accompany patients to appointments, and debrief after visits.

Study participants will be current or newly enrolled patients of three clinics: CARE Resources, in Miami FL, the PATH Program at Brooklyn Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, and PR CONCRA located in San Juan Puerto Rico who (1) have been out of care for 4 months or more or (2) present a need for substance abuse, mental health, or housing services.

Data will be collected at baseline and follow up (at six and twelve months) through client questionnaires, selected medical chart data (visit dates, laboratory tests and values) and intervention encounter forms on approximately 375 HIV positive adults. The data collected for this study will allow us to assess changes in: (a) retention in HIV primary care, (b) viral load suppression, (c) health-related quality of life, (d) self-efficacy, and (e) HIV knowledge that may be associated with an enhanced peer intervention.

Enrollment: 348 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV-positive; AND
• Age 18 years or older; AND
• Identifies as belonging to one or more of the following racial/ethnic groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic or Latino, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; AND
• New patient to clinic (including newly-diagnosed) whose initial assessment or intake form indicates a need for substance abuse treatment, mental health or housing services, or a past history of substance abuse or mental health services; OR
• The individual has been out of medical care at your clinic for 4 months or more.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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348 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard-of-care

No Intervention group

Description:

Standard-of-care at 3 demonstration sites includes: HIV medical care, medical case management, and referral to substance abuse, mental health, and housing services.

Enhanced Peer Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Provides emotional, informational, and instrumental peer support, in addition to Standard-of-Care.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Enhanced Peer Intervention