Efficacy of Two Evidence-Based Alcohol Consumption Interventions on Positive, Negative, and Neutral Days Among Hazardous Alcohol Users Living with HIV in Vietnam.

Social events and stressful settings can be catalysts for alcohol consumption. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are widely used in alcohol interventions. We assessed how alcohol consumption varied across three types of days (positive/social, negative/stressful, and neutral) among hazardous alcohol users living with HIV in Vietnam. We further evaluated how those consumption patterns changed after two MET/CBT alcohol reduction interventions versus the standard of care (SOC). The 'combined' intervention offered 6 individual sessions and 3 group sessions; the 'brief' intervention offered 2 individual sessions and 2 phone calls. A 30-day timeline follow-back was administered at study visits, detailing daily drinks and events. Days were categorized as neutral, positive/social, or negative/stressful; negative binomial models and generalized estimating equations were used to estimate drinks consumed by type of day at baseline and 12 months. Prior to intervention, more drinks were consumed on positive/social days (5.2 drinks; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:4.8, 5.7) than negative/stressful (1.5; 95% CI:1.3, 1.9) and neutral days (2.2; 95% CI: 1.9, 2.5). After the brief intervention, drinks consumed decreased on neutral days (ratio: 0.5: 95% CI: 0.4, 0.7). After the combined intervention, drinks consumed decreased on neutral days (ratio: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.6), positive/social days (ratio: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5, 0.7) and negative/stressful days (ratio: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.6). No reductions in consumption were observed in the SOC group. Social/positive days had the highest alcohol consumption prior to intervention, and the combined intervention showed the greatest decrease in consumption on those days. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02720237).

Association of Alcohol Use with COVID-19 Infection and Hospitalization Among People Living with HIV in the United States, 2020.

Alcohol use was associated with elevated COVID-19 risk in the general population. People with HIV (PWH) have high prevalences of alcohol use. To evaluate the effect of alcohol use on COVID-19 risks among PWH, we estimated the risk of COVID-19 diagnosis and COVID-19-related hospitalization among PWH in routine care at 8 HIV primary care centers that contributed data to the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) cohort according to their alcohol use just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CNICS data repository includes demographic characteristics, clinical diagnoses, and laboratory test results from electronic medical records and other sources. Alcohol use, substance use, and mental health symptoms were self-reported on tablet-based standardized surveys. Alcohol use was categorized according to standard, sex-specific Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption instrument cut-offs. We followed 5,496 PWH (79% male, 48% Black race, median age = 53 years) from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Relative to PWH with no baseline alcohol use, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of COVID-19 diagnosis was 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78, 1.51) for lower-risk drinking and 1.19 (95%CI: 0.81, 1.73) for unhealthy drinking. The aHR of COVID-19-related hospitalization was 0.82 (95%CI: 0.33, 1.99) for lower-risk drinking and 1.25 (95%CI: 0.50, 3.09) for unhealthy drinking. Results were not modified by recent cocaine or non-prescribed opioid use, depressive symptoms, or diagnoses of alcohol use disorder. The study suggested a slightly increased, but not statistically significant risk of COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalization associated with unhealthy alcohol use.

Longitudinal Trajectories of Alcohol Use in Vietnamese Adults with Hazardous Alcohol Use and HIV.

A three-armed drinking cessation trial in Vietnam found that both a brief and intensive version of an intervention effectively reduced hazardous drinking in people living with HIV. We used group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to assess the extent to which findings may vary by latent subgroups distinguished by their unique responses to the intervention. Using data on drinking patterns collected over the 12 months, GBTM identified five trajectory groups, three of which were suboptimal ["non-response" (17.2%); "non-sustained response" (15.7%), "slow response" (13.1%)] and two optimal ["abstinent" (36.4%); "fast response" (17.6%)]. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine that those randomized to any intervention arm were less likely to be in a suboptimal trajectory group, even more so if randomized to the brief (vs. intensive) intervention. Older age and higher baseline coping skills protected against membership in suboptimal trajectory groups; higher scores for readiness to quit drinking were predictive of it. GBTM revealed substantial heterogeneity in participants' response to a cessation intervention and may help identify subgroups who may benefit from more specialized services within the context of the larger intervention.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Recent Alcohol Use and HIV Viral Non-Suppression Among People Engaged in HIV Care in an Urban Clinic, 2014-2018.

We estimated joint associations between having history of alcohol use disorder (AUD) (based on prior ICD-9/ICD-10 codes) and recent self-reported alcohol use and viral non-suppression (≥ 1 viral load measurement > 20 copies/mL in the same calendar year as alcohol consumption was reported) among patients on ART enrolled in routine care, 2014-2018, in an urban specialty clinic. Among 1690 patients, 26% had an AUD, 21% reported high-risk alcohol use, and 39% had viral non-suppression. Relative to person-years in which people without AUD reported not drinking, prevalence of viral non-suppression was higher in person-years when people with AUD reported drinking at any level; prevalence of viral non-suppression was not significantly higher in person-years when people with AUD reported not drinking or person-years when people without AUD reported drinking at any level. No level of alcohol use may be "safe" for people with a prior AUD with regard to maintaining viral suppression.

HIV Prevention and Treatment Behavior Change and the Situated Information Motivation Behavioral Skills (sIMB) Model: A Qualitative Evaluation of a Community Health Worker Intervention in Rakai, Uganda.

A community health worker (CHW) model can promote HIV prevention and treatment behaviors, especially in highly mobile populations. In a fishing community in Rakai, Uganda, the Rakai Health Sciences Program implemented a CHW HIV intervention called Health Scouts. The situated Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills (sIMB) framework informed the design and a qualitative evaluation of the intervention. We interviewed 51 intervention clients and coded transcripts informed by sIMB framework dimensions. Clients reported that Health Scouts provided information about HIV prevention and treatment behaviors and helped them manage personal and social motivations to carry out health-promoting behavior. Prominent barriers which moved clients away from behavior change included daily pill burdens, anticipated stigma, serostatus disclosure, substance use at social gatherings, and anticipated reactions of partners. Our study adds to the evidence establishing CHWs as facilitators of behavior change, positioned to offer supportive encouragement and navigate contextualized circumstances.

Bacterial Vaginosis and Alcohol Consumption: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study in Baltimore, Maryland.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most cited cause of vaginal complaints among women of reproductive age. Its etiology and associated risk factors are not entirely understood. Here we examined the association between BV and at-risk alcohol consumption in women attending 2 sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in Baltimore, MD. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis using data from first clinic visits from 2011-2016. At-risk alcohol use was defined as heavy episodic ("binge") drinking within the last 30 days or a self-report of having had vaginal or anal sex in the context of alcohol consumption. Pearson χ2 test and Student t test were used to assess baseline associations. Log binomial models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) before and after adjustments for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Of the 10,991 women included in the analysis, 2173 (19.7%) met the clinical diagnostic criteria for BV. Having had vaginal or anal sex in the context of alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of BV (PR, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.37), as was binge drinking (PR, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.27) after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, at-risk alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of BV. The mechanisms remain uncertain. Future prospective studies are needed to verify and evaluate causality in these associations.

Decreased Alcohol Consumption in an Implementation Study of Computerized Brief Intervention among HIV Patients in Clinical Care.

This prospective, nonrandomized implementation study evaluated a computerized brief intervention (CBI) for persons with HIV (PWH) and heavy/hazardous alcohol use. CBI was integrated into two HIV primary care clinics. Eligible patients were engaged in care, ≥ 18 years old, English speaking, endorsed heavy/hazardous alcohol use on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C (AUDIT-C). Two 20-min computerized sessions using cognitive behavioral techniques were delivered by a 3-D avatar on touch screen tablets. Of 816 eligible AUDIT-C scores, 537 (66%) resulted in CBI invitation, 226 (42%) of invited patients enrolled, and 176 (78%) of enrolled patients watched at least one session. CBI enrollment was associated with a significant average reduction of 9.1 drinks/week (95% CI - 14.5, - 3.6) 4-12 months post-enrollment. Among those who participated in one or both sessions, average reduction in drinks/week was 11.7 drinks/week (95% CI - 18.8, - 4.6). There was corresponding improvement in AUDIT-C scores. Overall patients reported high levels of intervention satisfaction, particularly among older and Black patients. These promising results point to a practical intervention for alcohol reduction in this vulnerable patient population with elevated rates of heavy/hazardous drinking. Future research should examine strategies to increase initial engagement, strengthen intervention effects to increase the number of patients who achieve non-hazardous drinking, and examine the duration of therapeutic effects.

Cultural Adaptation of an Intervention to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Use Among People Living with HIV in Southwestern Uganda.

Hazardous drinking by persons living with HIV (PLHIV) is a well-established determinant of sub-optimal HIV care and treatment outcomes. Despite this, to date, few interventions have sought to reduce hazardous drinking among PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We describe an iterative cultural adaptation of an evidence-based multi-session alcohol reduction intervention for PLHIV in southwestern Uganda. The adaptation process included identifying core, theoretically informed, intervention elements, and conducting focus group discussions and cognitive interviews with community members, HIV clinic staff and patients to modify key intervention characteristics for cultural relevance and saliency. Adaptation of evidence-based alcohol reduction interventions can be strengthened by the inclusion of the target population and key stakeholders in shaping the content, while retaining fidelity to core intervention elements.

Changing Patterns of Alcohol Use and Probability of Unsuppressed Viral Load Among Treated Patients with HIV Engaged in Routine Care in the United States.

We examined HIV viral load non-suppression ([Formula: see text] 200 copies/mL) subsequent to person-periods (3-18 months) bookended by two self-reports of alcohol use on a standardized patient reported outcome assessment among adults in routine HIV care. We examined the relative risk (RR) of non-suppression associated with increases and decreases in alcohol use (relative to stable use), stratified by use at the start of the person-period. Increases in drinking from abstinence were associated with higher risk of viral non-suppression (low-risk without binge: RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03, 1.32; low-risk with binge: RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.11, 1.63; high-risk: RR 1.89, 95% CI 1.16, 3.08). Decreases in drinking from high-risk drinking were weakly, and not statistically significantly associated with lower risk of viral non-suppression. Other changes in alcohol use were not associated with viral load non-suppression. Most changes in alcohol consumption among people using alcohol at baseline were not strongly associated with viral non-suppression.

Psychiatric Disorders and Substance Use Among African American Women in HIV Care.

African-American (AA) women are overrepresented among women with HIV (WWH). In the United States, psychiatric disorders are prevalent among WWH and associated with adverse outcomes. However, little research has examined psychiatric disorders among AA WWH. 315 AA women who were hazardous/heavy drinkers (HD) or moderate/non-drinkers (ND) were recruited from an HIV clinic in a study on alcohol use disorders. We compared sample prevalence of Axis-1 psychiatric diagnoses using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV with those from general population AA women in the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R). While 29.9% of general population AA women had any lifetime disorder, 66.9% of HD and 62.4% of ND WWH met criteria for a lifetime Axis-1 disorder. Specifically, lifetime PTSD and lifetime MDD were over threefold higher; current PTSD and current MDD respectively were 11-fold and threefold higher. PTSD was the most frequent comorbid diagnosis. HD and ND WWH did not differ in prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses despite significantly higher rates of substance use among HD women. Diagnostic evaluation and intervention for psychiatric disorders should be a priority in HIV medical care settings to improve health outcomes. Interventions should be tailored to address the particular stressors, challenges, and resiliencies among AA WWH.

Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Men Living with HIV in Northern Vietnam.

We examined the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and characteristics of HIV-infected male perpetrators. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam with male antiretroviral treatment clients (N = 1099; mean age = 40.2 years). Bivariable associations were tested between psychological or physical/sexual IPV perpetration in the last 12 months and sociodemographic, psychosocial, and sexual behavioral factors using prevalence ratios. Factors significant at p < 0.10 were entered in multivariable models for each IPV outcome using a modified Poisson approach. Results showed 15.6% (N = 171/1099) reported perpetrating psychological IPV and 7.6% (N = 84/1099) perpetrating physical/sexual IPV in the last 12 months. HIV risk behaviors, including hazardous drinking and multiple sexual partners, having witnessed interparental violence as a child, and depressive symptoms were associated with perpetrating IPV. HIV interventions targeting HIV-infected men in Vietnam should intervene on IPV perpetration by addressing the co-occurring factors of sexual risk, depression, alcohol use, and child maltreatment that are correlated with IPV.

Alcohol Use Patterns and Subsequent Sexual Behaviors Among Women, Men who have Sex with Men and Men who have Sex with Women Engaged in Routine HIV Care in the United States.

Among people with HIV, alcohol use is associated with increased prevalence of sexual transmission behaviors. We examined associations between alcohol use in the prior year and sexual behaviors approximately six months later among 1857 women, 6752 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 2685 men who have sex with women (MSW). Any alcohol use was associated with increased risk of unsafe vaginal sex among women; anal sex and =>2 anal sex partners among MSM; and anal sex, =>2 anal or vaginal sex partners, and unsafe vaginal sex among MSW. In particular, among women >7 alcoholic drinks/week and among MSW =>5 alcoholic drinks/drinking day increased the likelihood of certain subsequent sexual behaviors. For all groups, especially women, the risk of sex under the influence of drugs/alcohol markedly increased with increases in quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption. These different patterns of drinking and sexual behaviors indicate the importance of tailored counseling messages to women, MSM and MSW.

Do Symptoms of Depression Interact with Substance Use to Affect HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes?

Few studies examine how depression and substance use interact to affect HIV control. In 14,380 persons with HIV (PWH), we used logistic regression and generalized estimating equations to evaluate how symptoms of depression interact with alcohol, cocaine, opioid, and methamphetamine use to affect subsequent retention in care, maintaining an active prescription for ART, and consistent virologic suppression. Among PWH with no or mild depressive symptoms, heavy alcohol use had no association with virologic suppression (OR 1.00 [0.95-1.06]); among those with moderate or severe symptoms, it was associated with reduced viral suppression (OR 0.80 [0.74-0.87]). We found no interactions with heavy alcohol use on retention in care or maintaining ART prescription or with other substances for any outcome. These results highlight the importance of treating moderate or severe depression in PWH, especially with comorbid heavy alcohol use, and support multifaceted interventions targeting alcohol use and depression.

The role of personal and household members' substance use in health-related quality of life in women living with HIV/AIDS.

Advances in HIV treatments have led to a greater focus on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among people living with HIV/AIDS. The current study examined factors associated with HRQOL among 378 women in HIV care. HRQOL was measured using a modified version of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey; scores were derived for the mental and physical composite summaries (MCS and PCS). We measured personal alcohol use and drug use. Household members' substance use were assessed by asking participants about the alcohol/drug status of persons with whom they live. Multivariate generalized linear models were used to estimate the linear association between MCS and PCS scores and personal and household members' alcohol and drug use. We found lower MCS scores were significantly associated with personal alcohol use and living with someone with alcohol or/and drug problems. Lower PCS scores were not significantly associated with personal alcohol use or living with someone with alcohol or/and drug problems. Findings suggest that universal screening and targeted interventions for alcohol use by the patient or household members may offer potential strategies for improving mental health quality of life among women living with HIV/AIDS.

"[Drinking is] Like a Rule That You Can't Break": Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Reduce Alcohol Use and Improve Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence among People Living with HIV and Alcohol Use Disorder in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use, a highly normative behavior in Vietnam that is associated with high rates of HIV infection and lower antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence, has been largely overlooked by HIV prevention efforts. OBJECTIVES: Using the risk environment framework, this qualitative study aims to explore the perceived microenvironmental (community-level) and endogenous (individual-level) barriers and facilitators to alcohol reduction among people living with HIV (PLHIV) with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in Vietnam. METHODS: From June-July 2014, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty PLHIV (18 men; 12 women) recruited from an outpatient ART clinic in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. All participants had scores of ≥8 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and ten of the 30 participants were currently using injection drugs. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and analyzed to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to alcohol reduction. RESULTS: Most participants reported a spike in alcohol consumption at the time of HIV diagnosis. Most perceived barriers existed at the microenvironmental level, including perceived inability to refuse alcohol in the context of community-level social norms and lack of alcohol treatment programs. Two commonly mentioned endogenous barriers were compensatory behaviors when reducing injection drug use and using alcohol as a coping strategy for HIV-related sadness. Those who were able to successfully reduce alcohol use and adhere to ART reported having social support to buffer community-level social pressure and cope with sadness. CONCLUSIONS: It may be effective to introduce targeted alcohol reduction interventions in health care centers to address individual risk practices and microenvironmental social norms.

Anxiety, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Perceived Stress as Predictors of Recent Drinking, Alcohol Craving, and Social Stress Response in Heavy Drinkers.

BACKGROUND: Stress and anxiety are widely considered to be causally related to alcohol craving and consumption, as well as development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, numerous preclinical and human studies examining effects of stress or anxiety on alcohol use and alcohol-related problems have been equivocal. This study examined relationships between scores on self-report anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and stress measures and frequency and intensity of recent drinking, alcohol craving during early withdrawal, as well as laboratory measures of alcohol craving and stress reactivity among heavy drinkers with AUD. METHODS: Media-recruited, heavy drinkers with AUD (N = 87) were assessed for recent alcohol consumption. Anxiety and stress levels were characterized using paper-and-pencil measures, including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Eligible subjects (N = 30) underwent alcohol abstinence on the Clinical Research Unit; twice daily measures of alcohol craving were collected. On day 4, subjects participated in the Trier Social Stress Test; measures of cortisol and alcohol craving were collected. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, higher BAI scores were associated with lower drinking frequency and reduced drinks/drinking day; in contrast, higher ASI-3 scores were associated with higher drinking frequency. BAI anxiety symptom and ASI-3 scores also were positively related to Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test total scores and AUD symptom and problem subscale measures. Higher BAI and ASI-3 scores but not PSS scores were related to greater self-reported alcohol craving during early alcohol abstinence. Finally, BAI scores were positively related to laboratory stress-induced cortisol and alcohol craving. In contrast, the PSS showed no relationship with most measures of alcohol craving or stress reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, clinically oriented measures of anxiety compared with perceived stress were more strongly associated with a variety of alcohol-related measures in current heavy drinkers with AUD.

Antiretroviral Therapy Use, Medication Adherence, and Viral Suppression Among PLWHA with Panic Symptoms.

Panic symptoms are prevalent among PLWHAs, yet few studies have examined their relationship with HIV outcomes. Using data from an observational cohort study in Baltimore, MD, we examined the association between panic symptoms and antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, medication adherence, and viral suppression. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations and adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, cocaine and/or heroin use, clinic enrollment time, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms. Between June 2010 and September 2012, 1195 individuals participated in 2080 audio computer assisted interviews; 9.9 % (n = 118) of individuals endorsed current panic symptoms. In multivariate analysis, panic symptoms were associated with decreased ART use (IRR 0.94; p = 0.05). Panic symptoms were neither associated with medication adherence nor viral suppression. These findings were independent of depressive symptoms and substance use. Panic symptoms are under-recognized in primary care settings and present an important barrier to ART use. Further studies investigating the reasons for this association are needed.

Okweraliikirira and Okwenyamira: Idioms of Psychological Distress Among People Living with HIV in Rakai, Uganda.

Introduction: Health and illness experiences are positioned within social and cultural contexts. Understanding the mental health and psychological distress of people living with HIV in highly affected communities is critical to addressing their needs and to ensure programming and interventions are targeted and appropriate. Methods: Grounded in the ethnomedical theoretical perspective, we conducted qualitative interviews to understand the experience and expression of psychological distress by people living with HIV in Rakai, Uganda. Participants included adults living with HIV (n=20), health workers (counselors, peer health workers, nurses, n=10), and key informants (n=12). Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed/translated, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two idioms of distress, okweraliikirira (worry/apprehension) and okwenyamira (deep/manythoughts/lots of thoughts) were described as impacting people living with HIV. Both idioms were said to be alleviated by social support or counseling, but if left unaddressed could lead to more severe mental health problems and poor ART adherence. Conclusion: People living with HIV understand their psychological distress through culturally specific idioms; such distress can have deleterious impacts on well-being. Incorporating idioms of distress into screening and treatment for people living with HIV may improve identification of individuals in need and overall health services to address this need.

The anxiety care continuum and its association with viral suppression among persons with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: It is unclear how often anxiety is diagnosed and treated and whether anxiety treatment is associated with improved viral suppression in persons with HIV. In this study, we characterized the anxiety care continuum and its association with viral suppression in a large urban HIV clinic in the United States. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. METHODS: We described the anxiety care continuum by combining data on self-reported anxiety symptoms, engagement in mental health care, clinical diagnoses and prescriptions from 1,967 persons receiving HIV care and treatment in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2014-23. We examined cross-sectional associations with viral suppression. All analyses were stratified by sex and race/ethnicity; a secondary analysis adjusted for age, years in care, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Nearly 1 in 5 patients reported mild-severe symptoms of anxiety but were not currently receiving mental health care or pharmacologic treatment for anxiety; 6% of patients reported anxiety symptoms but were receiving treatment, and 7% had been treated for anxiety that was currently in remission. The prevalence of viral suppression ranged from 87-89% across the anxiety care continuum except among patients with untreated moderate-severe anxiety, only 81% of whom were virally suppressed (95% CI: 80, 83). In adjusted models, untreated moderate-severe anxiety remained associated with viral non-suppression across demographic groups. CONCLUSION: We observed a robust association between untreated anxiety and viral non-suppression in a large urban cohort of persons with HIV. Screening for anxiety may identify patients with unmet mental health care needs who face barriers to maintaining viral suppression.

Scaling up a brief alcohol intervention to prevent HIV infection in Vietnam: a cluster randomized, implementation trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) often address normative behaviors. If a behavior is also common among clinicians, they may be skeptical about the necessity or effectiveness of an EBI. Alternatively, clinicians' attitudes and behaviors may be misaligned, or they may lack the knowledge and self-efficacy to deliver the EBI. Several EBIs address unhealthy alcohol use, a common and often culturally acceptable behavior. But unhealthy alcohol use may be particularly harmful to people with HIV (PWH). Here, we present an implementation trial using an experiential implementation strategy to address clinicians' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Clinicians receive the experiential intervention before they begin delivering an evidence-based brief alcohol intervention (BAI) to PWH with unhealthy alcohol use. METHODS: Design: In this hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness cluster randomized controlled trial, ART clinics (n = 30) will be randomized 1:1 to facilitation, a flexible strategy to address implementation barriers, or facilitation plus the experiential brief alcohol intervention (EBAI). In the EBAI arm, clinicians, irrespective of their alcohol use, will be offered the BAI as experiential learning. EBAI will address clinicians' alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors and increase their knowledge and confidence to deliver the BAI. PARTICIPANTS: ART clinic staff will be enrolled and assessed at pre-BAI training, post-BAI training, 3, 12, and 24 months. All PWH at the ART clinics who screen positive for unhealthy alcohol use will be offered the BAI. A subset of PWH (n = 810) will be enrolled and assessed at baseline, 3, and 12 months. OUTCOMES: We will compare implementation outcomes (acceptability, fidelity, penetration, costs, and sustainability) and effectiveness outcomes (viral suppression and alcohol use) between the two arms. We will assess the impact of site-level characteristics on scaling-up the BAI. We will also evaluate how experiencing the BAI affected clinical staff's alcohol use and clinic-level alcohol expectations in the EBAI arm. DISCUSSION: This trial contributes to implementation science by testing a novel strategy to implement a behavior change intervention in a setting in which clinicians themselves may engage in the behavior. Experiential learning may be useful to address normative and difficult to change lifestyle behaviors that contribute to chronic diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06358885 (04/10/2024), https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06358885 .