Jason Leider

Acceptability and feasibility of universal offer of rapid point of care testing for HIV in an acute admissions unit: results of the RAPID project.

Background UK guidance recommend all acute medical admissions be offered an HIV test. Our aim was to determine whether a dedicated staff member using a multimedia tool, a model found to be effective in the USA, is an acceptable, feasible, and cost-effective model when translated to a UK setting. Design Between 14th Jan to 12th May 2010, a Health advisor (HA) approached 19–65 year olds at a central London acute medical admissions unit (AAU) and offered a rapid HIV point of care test (POCT) with the aid of an educational video. Patients with negative results had the option to watch a post-test video providing risk-reduction information. For reactive results the HA arranged a confirmatory test, and ensured linkage into HIV specialist care. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through surveys and uptake rates. Costs per case of HIV identified were established. Results Of the 606 eligible people admitted during the pilot period, 324 (53.5%) could not be approached or testing was deemed inappropriate. In total 23.0% of eligible admissions had an HIV POCT. Of the patients who watched the video and had not recently tested for HIV, 93.6% (131/140) agreed to an HIV test; four further patients had an HIV test but did not watch the video. Three tests (2.2%, 3/135) were reactive and all were confirmed HIV positive on laboratory testing. 97.5% felt HIV testing in this setting was appropriate, and 90.1% liked receiving the information via video. The cost per patient of the intervention was £21. Discussion Universal POCT HIV testing in an acute medical setting, facilitated by an educational video and dedicated staff appears to be acceptable, feasible, effective, and low cost. These findings support the recommendation of HIV testing all admissions to AAU in high prevalence settings, although with the model used a significant proportion remained untested.

Felt and Enacted Stigma Among HIV/HCV-Coinfected Adults The Impact of Stigma Layering

The realization that many persons with HIV/AIDS are subjected to multiple layers of stigmatization because they belong to socially deviant and disenfranchised groups (e.g., injection drug users, racial/ethnic and sexual minorities) accounts for an increasing interest in the phenomenon of stigma layering. The stigma associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has also been conceptualized as layered. However, researchers have overlooked the fact that HCV adds a layer to the HIV stigma and vice versa. Qualitative interviews with 132 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were analyzed to explore how they experience the two layers of stigma. Most participants hierarchically ordered the stigmas associated with each disease and regarded HIV as the more stigmatizing of the two. A small number perceived HIV and HCV as equally stigmatizing. The impact of the hierarchical and nonhierarchical ordering of the two stigmas on coinfected patients’ felt and enacted stigmatization is explored and implications for interventions are discussed.

Barriers and facilitators of linkage to HIV primary care in New York City

Abstract:One in 5 people living with HIV are unaware of their status; they account for an estimated 51% of new infections. HIV transmission can be reduced through a “Test and Treat” strategy, which can decrease both viral load and risk behaviors. However, linkage of newly diagnosed HIV-positive persons to care has proved challenging. We report quantitative and qualitative data on linkage to care from HIV testing sites that partnered with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to implement “The Bronx Knows” (TBK), an initiative that tested 607,570 residents over 3 years. During TBK, partner agencies reported the aggregate number of HIV tests conducted, the number of confirmed positives (overall and new), and the number of confirmed positives linked to medical care. We conducted qualitative interviews with directors of 24 of 30 TBK HIV testing agencies to identify linkage barriers and selected 9 for case studies. Barriers to linkage fell into 3 domains: (1) health care system factors (long wait for provider appointments, requirement of a positive confirmatory test before scheduling an appointment, system navigation, and disrespect to patients); (2) social factors (HIV stigma); and (3) characteristics of risk populations (eg, mental illness, homelessness, substance use, and immigrant). Best practices for linkage included networking among community organizations, individualized care plans, team approach, comprehensive and coordinated care services, and patient peer navigation. Research and public health implications are discussed.

High-volume rapid HIV testing in an urban emergency department.

New Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines recommend routine HIV screening in locations including emergency departments. This study evaluates a novel approach to HIV counseling and testing (C&T) in a high-volume inner-city emergency department in terms of the number of patients who can be recruited, tested, test positive, and are linked to care. This prospective evaluation was conducted for 26 months. Noncritically ill or injured patients presenting to an inner-city emergency department were recruited. Patients used a multimedia program that facilitated data entry and viewed previously evaluated HIV counseling videos. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, and sexual history were collected. Data were collected on the number of patients tested, number of HIV-positive patients identified, and number linked to care. Demographic characteristics of the participants were as follows: 48.7% males, mean age 32.6 +/- 11.3, 34.6% Hispanic, and 37.9 % African American. Of the 7109 eligible patients approached, 6214 (87.4%) agreed to be HIV tested. There were 57 newly diagnosed or confirmed HIV-positive patients, representing a seroprevalence of 0.92%. Of those testing positive, 49 (84.2%) were linked to care and had a mean initial CD4 count of 238 cells/mm(3). In conclusion, a video-assisted rapid HIV program in a busy inner-city hospital emergency department can effectively test a high volume of patients and successfully link HIV-positive individuals to care, while providing high-quality education and prevention messages for all those who test.

A randomized control trial evaluating the educational effectiveness of a rapid hiv posttest counseling video

Objective: Many of the individuals most at risk for HIV infection (i.e., minority populations, women, adolescents) are also the most marginalized by our health care system. Lacking primary care providers, they rely on the Emergency Department (ED) for their health care needs and education. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we compared the educational effectiveness of a 15-minute posttest counseling video with the normal practice of a session with an HIV counselor. The study population was composed of ambulatory patients recruited for rapid HIV testing in the ED. Methods: The RAs (research assistants) recruited a convenience sample of stable patients presenting to the walk-in section of an inner-city adult ED for rapid HIV testing. Eligible patients for this study included patients who consented for the rapid HIV test and completed measures on condom intention and condom use self-efficacy. Before receiving their results, participants who consented to be in this study were randomized to either a 15-minute HIV posttest educational video available in English/Spanish or to a posttest educational session with an HIV counselor. Afterwards, both groups completed an assessment tool concerning HIV prevention and transmission. Results: Of the 128 participants, 61 and 67 patients were randomized to the video and counselor groups, respectively. The groups were similar with respect to gender, ethnicity and experience with prior HIV testing. Mean knowledge scores were higher in the video group (76.20% vs. 69.3%; 90% CI for the difference, 2.8, 11.2). As the lower bound of the CI for the difference was higher than the lower equivalence boundary (−5%), we infer that the video was at least as effective as the counselor educational session. Conclusions: The use of an educational counseling video is a valid alternative for providing posttest education and prevention information during the waiting period associated with the 20-minute HIV rapid test. Without disruption in clinical flow, both testing and education can be accomplished in a meaningful way in a busy ED.

Outcomes after an excisional procedure for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-infected women.

OBJECTIVE To determine predictors of treatment failure and recurrence after surgical excisional procedures for CIN in HIV-infected women. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted in which 136 eligible HIV-infected women treated for CIN between 1999 and 2005 were included. Data were abstracted from charts and computer databases. Treatment failures were defined as the presence of CIN 1+ at initial follow-up. Recurrences were defined as the presence of CIN 1+ subsequent to initial normal follow-up. RESULTS Treatment failure at initial follow-up was common, occurring in 51% of CIN 1 and 55% of CIN 2+. Most lesions detected at treatment failure were high grade (>70%), regardless of the grade of initial lesion. Significant risk factors for treatment failure were loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) compared to cold knife conization (RR=1.76; 95% CI: 1.15-2.64), and low CD4+ count (p=0.04). Among those with an initial normal clinical evaluation, 55% eventually recurred. As with treatment failure, most lesions detected at recurrence were high grade. Risk factors for recurrence included use of LEEP (hazard ratio [HR]=3.38; 95% CI: 1.55-7.39), higher HIV RNA level, and the presence of positive margins at treatment (HR=6.12; 95% CI: 1.90-19.73). CONCLUSIONS Most CIN treatment of HIV-infected women studied either failed or resulted in recurrence. Of particular concern, many of these subsequent lesions were high grade. Conization, however, was associated with significantly less failure/recurrence than LEEP. Clinicians treating CIN in HIV-infected women should avoid raising expectations of cure and instead focus on the achievable goal of cancer prevention until there are better therapies for this patient population.

Counselor-Based Rapid HIV Testing in Community Pharmacies

The purpose of this study was to examine the results of implementing a rapid counselor-based HIV testing program in community pharmacies. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of clients at five community pharmacies in New York City (NYC). In 294 days of pharmacy testing, 2805 clients were eligible to receive testing, and 2030 individuals agreed to test. The average age was 33±15 years, 41% were male, 59% were Hispanic, 77% had been previously tested for HIV, and 34% were uninsured. HIV incidence was 0.3%, median CD4 cell count was 622.0, and the average age of the newly diagnosed positives was 36.0±13.9 years. Participants were satisfied with a counselor-based rapid HIV testing program in community-based pharmacies.

Increasing willingness to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus in the emergency department during off-hour tours: a randomized trial.

Objective: To test a model designed to increase willingness of patients presenting to the emergency department off hours to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by using a pretest counseling video as a substitute for face-to-face counseling. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the rate of testing in patients randomized to receive video counseling with immediate testing (video group) versus standard care, which was referral to counseling and testing the next day (standard referral group). Results: Fifty percent of 805 eligible patients consented to participate in the study, indicating willingness to be tested. The HIV testing rate was higher in the video group 92.6% (187 of 202) than in the standard referral group 4.5% (9 of 202) (difference = 88.1%, 95% confidence interval: 83.5%–92.7%). Thirty percent of 187 patients in the video group who were tested returned for their results; 8 of 9 patients in standard care returned to be tested and to get their results. Conclusion: Half of the patients who were solicited for HIV testing agreed to be tested. When testing was immediate the patient was more likely to have the test completed.

Engaging HIV-Positive Individuals in Specialized Care from an Urban Emergency Department

Linking patients who test positive for HIV in an emergency department (ED) setting to HIV care can be challenging. The aim of this study was to assess whether a multimedia HIV testing model utilized in an inner-city ED can effectively link HIV-positive individuals into specialized medical care. A prospective cohort study was performed from October 2005 to January 2009 at an urban academic hospital with a Level 1 trauma center and in-house specialized HIV clinic. Patients were HIV tested in the ED using a multimedia video counseling program which included computer-assisted data collection. Patients who tested positive were linked to care by the same counselor who gave the test result. Linkage was immediate for discharged patients during clinic hours and patients tested during off-hours were scheduled a visit on the next business day. All follow-up was conducted through chart review. The public health advocates (PHAs) tested 24,495 patients over the course of the study, of whom 116 (0.47%) were HIV positive and 93 were newly diagnosed. A total of 83.6% (97/116) of HIV-positive individuals were linked into specialized care, defined here as an outpatient clinic visit within 30 days of diagnosis in the ED. The findings suggest that a multimedia testing model that includes a counselor who acts as tester and navigator can successfully link a high percentage of patients into specialized care.

Financial Incentives for Linkage to Care and Viral Suppression Among HIV-Positive Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial (HPTN 065)

Importance Achieving linkage to care and viral suppression in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients improves their well-being and prevents new infections. Current gaps in the HIV care continuum substantially limit such benefits. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of financial incentives on linkage to care and viral suppression in HIV-positive patients. Design, Setting, and Participants A large community-based clinical trial that randomized 37 HIV test and 39 HIV care sites in the Bronx, New York, and Washington, DC, to financial incentives or standard of care. Interventions Participants at financial incentive test sites who had positive test results for HIV received coupons redeemable for