Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention for People Who Use Drugs: Overview of Reviews and the ICOS of PICOS.

BACKGROUND: This article summarizes the results from systematic reviews of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention interventions for people who use drugs (PWUD). We performed an overview of reviews, meta-analysis, meta-epidemiology, and PROSPERO Registration CRD42017070117. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project database to identify quantitative systematic reviews of HIV public heath interventions with PWUD published during 2002-2017. We recombined results of US studies across reviews to quantify effects on HIV infections, continuum of HIV care, sexual risk, and 5 drug-related outcomes (sharing injection equipment, injection frequency, opioid use, general drug use, and participation in drug treatment). We conducted summary meta-analyses separately for reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experiments. We stratified effects by 5 intervention types: behavioral-psychosocial (BPS), syringe service programs (SSP), opioid agonist therapy (OAT), financial and scheduling incentives (FSI), and case management (CM). RESULTS: We identified 16 eligible reviews including >140 US studies with >55 000 participants. Summary effects among US studies were significant and favorable for 4 of 5 outcomes measured under RCT (eg, reduced opioid use; odds ratio [OR] = 0.70, confidence interval [CI] = 0.56-0.89) and all 6 outcomes under quasi-experiments (eg, reduced HIV infection [OR = 0.42, CI = 0.27-0.63]; favorable continuum of HIV care [OR = 0.68, CI = 0.53-0.88]). Each intervention type showed effectiveness on 1-6 outcomes. Heterogeneity was moderate to none for RCT but moderate to high for quasi-experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral-psychosocial, SSP, OAT, FSI, and CM interventions are effective in reducing risk of HIV and sequelae of injection and other drug use, and they have a continuing role in addressing the opioid crisis and Ending the HIV Epidemic.

A Rapid Review of eHealth Interventions Addressing the Continuum of HIV Care (2007-2017).

National HIV prevention goals call for interventions that address Continuum of HIV Care (CoC) for persons living with HIV. Electronic health (eHealth) can leverage technology to rapidly develop and disseminate such interventions. We conducted a qualitative review to synthesize (a) technology types, (b) CoC outcomes, (c) theoretical frameworks, and (d) behavior change mechanisms. This rapid review of eHealth, HIV-related articles (2007-2017) focused on technology-based interventions that reported CoC-related outcomes. Forty-five studies met inclusion criteria. Mobile texting was the most commonly reported technology (44.4%, k = 20). About 75% (k = 34) of studies showed proven or preliminary efficacy for improving CoC-related outcomes. Most studies (60%, k = 27) focused on medication adherence; 20% (k = 9) measured virologic suppression. Many eHealth interventions with preliminary or proven efficacy relied on mobile technology and integrated knowledge/cognition as behavior change mechanisms. This review identified gaps in development and application of eHealth interventions regarding CoC.

HIV Prevention Research on Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews, 1988-2017.

In the United States, men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. To identify research gaps and inform HIV prevention for MSM, we conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews using CDC's Prevention Research Synthesis database. Eligibility criteria comprised English-language systematic reviews focused on HIV prevention for MSM, published during 1988-2017, and included at least one U.S. primary study. We coded data type, subpopulations, topics, and key findings. To assess study quality, we used the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). Among 129 relevant systematic reviews, study quality was high or moderate for 63%. Most common topics were sexual behavior and disease vulnerability. The most frequently mentioned MSM subgroups were HIV-positive, Black or African American, and young. Research gaps include Hispanic/Latino MSM, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), treatment as prevention, social determinants of health, health disparities, syndemics, and protective factors for sexual health.