Mixed Methods Analysis of Telehealth Experience, Satisfaction, and Quality of Care During the COVID Pandemic Among Persons with HIV in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this study is to describe telehealth experiences and quality of HIV care provided to an urban population of people with HIV (PWH) in Washington, DC. We used self-reported survey data from a cohort of PWH in the DC Cohort longitudinal study linked to medical records (October 26, 2020-December 31, 2021). Analyses followed a mixed-methods approach, including prevalence estimates and multivariable logistic regression of telehealth use by demographic and HIV characteristics. We measured primary motivation, modes of engagement, and telehealth satisfaction. Qualitative responses to open-ended questions were coded using collaborative coding. A framework developed by the National Quality Forum (NQF) was applied to the results. Among 978 participants, 69% reported using telehealth for HIV care during the pandemic. High school graduates were less likely to use telehealth compared to those with college education (aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48, 0.98). PWH with > 1 co-morbid condition were more likely to use telehealth compared to those without (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.02, 1.95). The majority reported satisfaction with telehealth (81%). Qualitative analysis of telehealth satisfaction found that most responses were related to access to care and technology, effectiveness, and patient experience. PWH using telehealth during the pandemic were satisfied with their experience though use differed demographically. Telehealth was used effectively to overcome barriers to care engagement, including transportation, costs, and time. As we transition away from the emergency pandemic responses, it will be important to determine how this technology can be used in the future in an equitable manner to further strengthen HIV care engagement.

Psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic from a cross-sectional Survey of people living with HIV in Washington, DC.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has not only taken a staggering toll in terms of cases and lives lost, but also in its psychosocial effects. We assessed the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in a large cohort of people with HIV (PWH) in Washington DC and evaluated the association of various demographic and clinical characteristics with psychosocial impacts. METHODS: From October 2020 to December 2021, DC Cohort participants were invited to complete a survey capturing psychosocial outcomes influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some demographic variables were also collected in the survey, and survey results were matched to additional demographic data and laboratory data from the DC Cohort database. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the association between demographic and clinical characteristics and psychosocial impacts, assessed individually and in overarching categories (financial/employment, mental health, decreased social connection, and substance use). RESULTS: Of 891 participants, the median age was 46 years old, 65% were male, and 76% were of non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity. The most commonly reported psychosocial impact categories were mental health (78% of sample) and financial/employment (56% of sample). In our sample, older age was protective against all adverse psychosocial impacts. Additionally, those who were more educated reported fewer financial impacts but more mental health impacts, decreased social connection, and increased substance use. Males reported increased substance use compared with females. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial psychosocial impacts on PWH, and resiliency may have helped shield older adults from some of these effects. As the pandemic continues, measures to aid groups vulnerable to these psychosocial impacts are critical to help ensure continued success towards healthy living with HIV.

Site assessment survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV clinic site services and strategies for mitigation in Washington, DC.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has created substantial interruptions in healthcare presenting challenges for people with chronic illnesses to access care and treatment services. We aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on HIV care delivery by characterizing the pandemic-related impact on HIV clinic-level services and the mitigation strategies that were developed to address them. METHODS: The data comes from a site assessment survey conducted in the DC Cohort, an observational clinical cohort of PWH receiving care at 14 HIV outpatient clinics in Washington, D.C. Frequency counts and prevalence estimates of clinic-level survey responses about the impact of care delivery, COVID-19 testing, and vaccinations and mitigation strategies are presented. RESULTS: Clinics reported an increase in temporary clinic closures (n = 2), reduction in clinic hours (n = 5), telehealth utilization (n = 10), adoption of multi-month dispensation of antiretroviral (ARV) medication (n = 11) and alternative drug delivery via postal/courier service, home/community delivery or pick-up (n = 11). Clinics utilized strategies for PWH who were lost to follow-up during the pandemic including offering care to persons with any income level and insurance status (n = 9), utilizing e-prescribing for auto refills even if the patient missed visits (n = 8), and utilization of the regional health information exchange to check for hospitalizations of PWH lost to follow-up (n = 8). Most social services offered before the pandemic remained available during the pandemic; however, some support services were modified. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the extent of pandemic-era disruptions and the use of clinic-level mitigation strategies among urban HIV clinics. These results may help prepare for future pandemic or public health emergencies that disrupt healthcare delivery and access.

Risk of Severe COVID-19 Disease and the Pandemic's Impact on Service Utilization Among a Longitudinal Cohort of Persons with HIV-Washington, DC.

People with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of medical comorbidities, potentially putting them at increased risk for severe COVID-19. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV care delivery has been restructured and the impact on HIV outcomes is unknown. The objectives of this study were first, to examine the risk of severe COVID-19 among PWH, using a definition incorporating clinical risk factors, and second, to examine the pandemic's impact on HIV care. We used data from the DC Cohort, a large cohort of people receiving HIV care in Washington, DC. We found that a high proportion of participants across all age groups qualified as increased (58%) or high risk (34%) for severe COVID-19. Between 2019 and 2020, encounters increased (17.7%, increasing to 23.5% of active DC Cohort participants had an encounter) while laboratory utilization decreased (14.4%, decreasing to 11.4% of active DC Cohort participants had an HIV RNA test performed). Implications of our work include the importance of protecting vulnerable people with HIV from acquiring COVID-19 and potentially manifesting severe complications through strategies including vaccination. Additionally, acknowledging that HIV service delivery will likely be changed long-term by the pandemic, adaptation is required to ensure continued progress towards 90-90-90 goals.

Diabetes mellitus control in a large cohort of people with HIV in care-Washington, D.C.

With more effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV (PWH) are living longer and have more chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). The prevalence of DM has been estimated in PWH previously, however there is less research regarding DM control. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of DM and DM control and determine factors associated with DM control in a large urban cohort of PWH in care. We examined DC Cohort participants aged ≥18 years old to determine DM prevalence and to assess DM control (HbA1c measurement <7.0%). Demographic, clinical, and HIV-related factors associated with DM control were identified using multivariate logistic regression. The cohort of 5876 participants was predominantly male (71.3%), Non-Hispanic Black (78.1%) and had a median age of 52.0 years. DM prevalence was 17.4% (1023/5876). Among participants with recent HbA1c data available (39.9%) the proportion with DM control was 60.0% (245/408). In multivariate analysis, higher BMI (aOR: 0.47; 95% CI 0.28, 0.79) and use of non-insulin DM medication (aOR 0.43, 95% CI 0.25, 0.73) or insulin (aOR 0.010, 95% CI 0.04,0.24) compared to no medication use. Our findings suggest that individuals on medication for their DM likely need enhanced support to reach their treatment goals.

Clinic-Level Factors Associated With Time to Antiretroviral Initiation and Viral Suppression in a Large, Urban Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Using the results of a site assessment survey performed at clinics throughout Washington, DC, we studied the impact of clinic-level factors on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and viral suppression (VS) among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis from the District of Columbia (DC) Cohort, an observational, clinical cohort of PLWH from 2011-2018. We included data from PLWH not on ART and not virally suppressed at enrollment. Outcomes were ART initiation and VS (HIV RNA < 200 copies/mL). A clinic survey captured information on care delivery (eg, clinical services, adherence services, patient monitoring services) and clinic characteristics (eg, types of providers, availability of evenings/weekends sessions). Multivariate marginal Cox regression models were generated to identify those factors associated with the time to ART initiation and VS. RESULTS: Multiple clinic-level factors were associated with ART initiation, including retention in care monitoring and medication dispensing reviews (adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs], 1.34 to 1.40; P values < .05 for both). Furthermore, multiple factors were associated with VS, including retention in HIV care monitoring, medication dispensing reviews, and the presence of a peer interventionist (aHRs, 1.35 to 1.72; P values < .05 for all). In multivariable models evaluating different combinations of clinic-level factors, enhanced adherence services (aHR, 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.58), medication dispensing reviews (aHR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10-1.36), and the availability of opioid treatment (aHR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.57) were all associated with the time to VS. CONCLUSIONS: The observed association between clinic-level factors and ART initiation/VS suggests that the presence of specific clinic services may facilitate the achievement of HIV treatment goals.

Disparities in achieving and sustaining viral suppression among a large cohort of HIV-infected persons in care - Washington, DC.

One goal of the HIV care continuum is achieving viral suppression (VS), yet disparities in suppression exist among subpopulations of HIV-infected persons. We sought to identify disparities in both the ability to achieve and sustain VS among an urban cohort of HIV-infected persons in care. Data from HIV-infected persons enrolled at the 13 DC Cohort study clinical sites between January 2011 and June 2014 were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to identify factors associated with achieving VS (viral load < 200 copies/ml) at least once, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify factors associated with sustaining VS and time to virologic failure (VL ≥ 200 copies/ml after achievement of VS). Among the 4311 participants, 95.4% were either virally suppressed at study enrollment or able to achieve VS during the follow-up period. In multivariate analyses, achieving VS was significantly associated with age (aOR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.03-1.06 per five-year increase) and having a higher CD4 (aOR: 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06 per 100 cells/mm(3)). Patients infected through perinatal transmission were less likely to achieve VS compared to MSM patients (aOR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.51-0.79). Once achieved, most participants (74.4%) sustained VS during follow-up. Blacks and perinatally infected persons were less likely to have sustained VS in KM survival analysis (log rank chi-square p ≤ .001 for both) compared to other races and risk groups. Earlier time to failure was observed among females, Blacks, publically insured, perinatally infected, those with longer standing HIV infection, and those with diagnoses of mental health issues or depression. Among this HIV-infected cohort, most people achieved and maintained VS; however, disparities exist with regard to patient age, race, HIV transmission risk, and co-morbid conditions. Identifying populations with disparate outcomes allows for appropriate targeting of resources to improve outcomes along the care continuum.

Use of geosocial networking (GSN) mobile phone applications to find men for sex by men who have sex with men (MSM) in Washington, DC.

Current advances have added geosocial networking (GSN) mobile phone applications as an option for men who have sex with men (MSM) to meet other men. This is the first study to assess GSN application use and sex-seeking behaviors of MSM recruited using venue-based sampling. Among the 379 MSM in this study, 63.6 % reported using GSN applications to find men in the past year. Nearly one-quarter of MSM had sex with a man met using a GSN application in the prior year; these men were more likely to be under 35 years old and have had sex with a man met on the Internet; they were also less likely to be HIV-positive and have <5 male sex partners in the last year. GSN applications are a viable option for use in sampling and delivering interventions to young MSM who are often missed through other methods.

Correlates of group sex among a community-based sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Washington, DC.

Participation of MSM in group sex events (GSEs) is an understudied phenomenon. Studies on GSEs identified significant proportions of MSM engaging in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). We sought to identify the prevalence of group sex participation among MSM in Washington, DC and to characterize these experiences. Data were collected for NHBS-MSM-3 in 2011. More than one-quarter of MSM (27.2 %) reported engaging in group sex in the prior year, with one-third reporting no condom use with their sex partners (33.0 %). In multivariable logistic regression, men who participated in a GSE in the prior year were significantly younger, more likely to be white, and to have used crystal meth, poppers, and downers in the past year. The high prevalence of UAI during GSEs, especially in view of the fact that HIV-positive MSM were significantly less likely to report condom use, offers an opportunity to develop risk reduction interventions specific to GSE attendees.

HIV among women in the District of Columbia: an evolving epidemic?

The epidemiology of HIV in urban centers of the United States such as the District of Columbia (DC) is dynamic with rates of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses as well as risk factors elevated. Correlates of HIV among heterosexual women extend beyond traditional, individual risk factors to structural factors. The purpose of this study was to compare proportions of HIV and correlates of HIV among women participating in National HIV behavioral surveillance (NHBS) system in 2006-7 (NHBS Cycle 1) and 2010 (NHBS Cycle 2). Analysis of 677 female participants at elevated risk for HIV revealed high prevalence of individual-level HIV-associated risk factors (e.g., sexual behavior) and socio-structural associated risk factors (e.g., homelessness, incarceration, lack of health insurance). While a greater proportion of women were HIV-infected in Cycle 2, after controlling for the distribution of demographic characteristics to adjust for a change in eligibility criteria, the pooled sample did not reveal a significantly increased proportion of HIV-infected women in Cycle 2. Homelessness and condom use were associated with greater relative odds of HIV after adjustment for confounders, and non-injection drug use was associated with reduced odds. Findings inform our understanding of the continuing HIV epidemic in DC and support development of effective interventions to slow the epidemic among women in DC and similar urban centers.

Temporal association between expanded HIV testing and improvements in population-based HIV/AIDS clinical outcomes, District of Columbia.

In 2006, the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC DOH) launched initiatives promoting routine HIV testing and improved linkage to care in support of revised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HIV-testing guidelines. An ecological analysis was conducted using population-based surveillance data to determine whether these efforts were temporally associated with increased and earlier identification of HIV/AIDS cases and improved linkages to care. Publically funded HIV-testing data and HIV/AIDS surveillance data from 2005 to 2009 were used to measure the number of persons tested, new diagnoses, timing of entry into care, CD4 at diagnosis and rates of progression to AIDS. Tests for trend were used to determine whether statistically significant changes in these indicators were observed over the five-year period. Results indicated that from 2005 to 2009, publically funded testing increased 4.5-fold; the number of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases remained relatively constant. Statistically significant increases in the proportion of cases entering care within three months of diagnosis were observed (p < 0.0001). Median CD4 counts at diagnosis increased over the five-year time period from 346 to 379 cells/µL. The proportion of cases progressing from HIV to AIDS and diagnosed with AIDS initially, decreased significantly (both p < 0.0001). Routine HIV testing and linkage to care efforts in the District of Columbia were temporally associated with earlier diagnoses of cases, more timely entry into HIV-specialized care, and a slowing of HIV disease progression. The continued use of surveillance data to measure the community-level impact of other programmatic initiatives including test and treat strategies will be critical in monitoring the response to the District's HIV epidemic.

Childhood sexual abuse and HIV-related risks among men who have sex with men in Washington, DC.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been reported to be disproportionately higher among men who have sex with men (MSM) than among heterosexual men; it has also been found to be significantly positively associated with HIV status and HIV risk factors, including unprotected anal intercourse. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlates of CSA in a sample of community-recruited MSM, investigate race as a potential effect modifier, and describe the independent association between CSA and HIV infection in Washington, DC. A total of 500 MSM were recruited by venue-based sampling in 2008 as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance. More than one-half of MSM identified as White, while one-third identified as Black. CSA was reported by 17.5 % of the 451 MSM, with the first instance of abuse occurring at a median age of 8.3 (interquartile range = 5.0, 11.0). In multivariable analysis, HIV-positive men were significantly more likely to report a history of CSA compared to HIV-negative men after adjusting for intimate partner violence in the last 12 months, having been arrested in the last 12 months, and depressive symptoms. HIV-positive MSM had more than four times the odds of reporting CSA after controlling for other correlates (aOR = 4.19; 95 % CI 2.26, 7.75). Despite hypothesizing that race modified the effect of CSA on HIV infection we found this was not the case in this sample. More research is needed to investigate the potential pathway between a history of CSA and HIV infection, and how this contributes to driving the HIV epidemic among MSM in Washington, DC.

Mpox Awareness, Risk Reduction, and Vaccine Acceptance among People with HIV in Washington, DC.

People with HIV (PWH) are disproportionally affected by mpox and at risk of severe complications. We assessed mpox knowledge, adoption of preventive behaviors, and vaccination attitudes among PWH enrolled in a longitudinal HIV cohort in Washington, DC, the DC Cohort. We conducted uni- and multivariable analyses comparing participants by vaccination status and HIV risk group, and multinomial regression to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Among 430 PWH, 378 (87.9%) were aware of mpox. Among 373 participants with vaccination status data, 101 (27.1%) were vaccinated, 129 (34.6%) planned to vaccinate, and 143 (38.3%) did not plan to vaccinate. The three vaccination groups differed significantly by age, race, education, HIV risk group, recent STI status, and level of mpox worry (all p < 0.05). A higher proportion of men who have sex with men (MSM) reported limiting their number of sexual partners compared to non-MSM (p < 0.0001). Multinomial regression models comparing vaccinated to unvaccinated PWH found age, education, mode of HIV transmission/gender, and survey period were significantly associated with vaccination status (all p < 0.05). High levels of mpox awareness were observed among this cohort of PWH with more MSM employing risk reduction behaviors and being vaccinated. Ensuring that PWH, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or age, understand the risks of mpox may improve vaccination uptake.

Factors associated with time to initial antiretroviral regimen discontinuation in the DC Cohort.

BACKGROUND: When an initial antiretroviral (ART) regimen is effective and well-tolerated, it can be maintained for years as long as the patient adheres. Prior research has revealed that shorter initial ART duration is associated with regimen type, female sex, injection drug use (IDU) as the HIV transmission risk factor, and lower baseline CD4 count. We examined initial ART duration in ART-naïve individuals newly enrolling in HIV care in the DC Cohort. METHODS: We included ART naïve-individuals with detectable HIV RNA enrolled in the DC Cohort after January 2011 with >6 months of follow-up. The outcome of interest was the discontinuation of the initial regimen. Kaplan Meier analysis and Multivariable Cox PH modeling were performed. RESULTS: There were 479 individuals included in the analysis. The median age of participants was 33.9 years (IQR 26-43.9). The sample was predominantly male (79.1%) and of Black race (70.8%). Over half of the study participants (56.4%) attended community-based clinic sites. The median time to the discontinuation of initial ART was 2.7 years (95% CI: 2.3, 3.4). Females had a shorter time to ART discontinuation (aHR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.11) as did individuals who started on a PI-based regimen vs INSTI (aHR 1.87, 95% CI: 1.34, 2.61), and those receiving HIV care at a community-based site (aHR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11,1.93). CONCLUSIONS: Although limited by lack of reason for discontinuation, we demonstrated that ART-naïve women, community clinic attendees, and patients starting on PIs had shorter duration of initial ART. More anticipatory guidance may be needed to help patients stay on their initial therapy and manage the side effects or to be flexible in trying different regimens.

Correlates of frequency of HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Washington, DC.

In Washington, DC, the leading mode of HIV transmission is through men who have sex with men (MSM) behavior. This study explored differences between frequent HIV testers (men testing at least twice a year) and annual or less frequent testers (men testing once a year or less) in DC. Nearly, one-third of MSM reported testing for HIV at least four times in the prior two years. In the multivariable model, frequent testers had significantly higher odds of being aged 18-34 (aOR =1.94), knowing their last partner's HIV status (aOR=1.86), having 5+ partners in the last year (aOR=1.52), and having seen a health-care provider in the last year (aOR=2.28). Conversely, frequent testers had significantly lower odds of being newly HIV positive (aOR=0.27), and having a main partner at last sex (vs. casual/exchange partner; aOR=0.59). Medical providers need to be encouraged to consistently offer an HIV test to their patients, especially those who are sexually active and who have not tested recently.

Differing HIV risks and prevention needs among men and women injection drug users (IDU) in the District of Columbia.

Washington, DC has among the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. Gender differences among injection drug users (IDUs) may be associated with adoption of prevention opportunities including needle exchange programs, HIV testing, psychosocial support, and prevention programming. National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data on current IDUs aged ≥18 were collected from 8/09 to 11/09 via respondent-driven sampling in Washington, DC. HIV status was assessed using oral OraQuick with Western Blot confirmation. Weighted estimates were derived using RDSAT. Stata was used to characterize the sample and differences between male and female IDU, using uni-, bi-, and multivariable methods. Factors associated with HIV risk differed between men and women. Men were more likely than women to have had a history of incarceration (86.6 % vs. 66.8 %, p < 0.01). Women were more likely than men to have depressive symptoms (73.9 % vs. 47.4 %, p < 0.01), to have been physically or emotionally abused (66.1 % vs. 16.1 %, p < 0.0001), to report childhood sexual abuse (42.7 % vs. 4.7 %, p < 0.0001), and pressured or forced to have sex (62.8 % vs. 4.0 %, p < 0.0001); each of these differences was significant in the multivariable analysis. Despite a decreasing HIV/AIDS epidemic among IDU, there remain significant gender differences with women experiencing multiple threats to psychosocial health, which may in turn affect HIV testing, access, care, and drug use. Diverging needs by gender are critical to consider when implementing HIV prevention strategies.

Trends in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake Among Persons Living With HIV in Washington, DC.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected older people, people with underlying health conditions, racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and people living with HIV (PWH). We sought to describe vaccine hesitancy and associated factors, reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine uptake over time in PWH in Washington, DC. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between October 2020 and December 2021 among PWH enrolled in a prospective longitudinal cohort in DC. Survey data were linked to electronic health record data and descriptively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. The most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy and uptake were assessed. RESULTS: Among 1029 participants (66% men, 74% Black, median age 54 years), 13% were vaccine hesitant and 9% refused. Women were 2.6-3.5 times, non-Hispanic Blacks were 2.2 times, Hispanics and those of other race/ethnicities were 3.5-8.8 times, and younger PWH were significantly more likely to express hesitancy or refusal than men, non-Hispanic Whites, and older PWH, respectively. The most reported reasons for vaccine hesitancy were side effect concerns (76%), plans to use other precautions/masks (73%), and speed of vaccine development (70%). Vaccine hesitancy and refusal declined over time (33% in October 2020 vs. 4% in December 2021, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study is one of the largest analyses of vaccine hesitancy among PWH in a US urban area highly affected by HIV and COVID-19. Multilevel culturally appropriate approaches are needed to effectively address COVID-19 vaccine concerns raised among PWH.

Impact of a Multi-Institutional Initiative to Engage Students and Early-Stage Scholars From Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in HIV Research: The Centers for AIDS Research Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for AIDS Research Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative (CDEIPI) aims to establish programs to develop pathways for successful careers in HIV science among scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations. This article describes cross-site evaluation outcomes during the first 18 months (July 2021-December 2022) across 15 programs. METHODS: The aims of the evaluation were to characterize participants, describe feasibility, challenges, and successes of the programs and provide a basis for the generalizability of best practices to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States. Two primary data collection methods were used: a quarterly programmatic monitoring process and a centrally managed, individual-level, participant quantitative and qualitative survey. RESULTS: During the first year of evaluation data collection, 1085 racially and ethnically diverse scholars ranging from the high school to postdoctoral levels applied for CDEIPI programs throughout the United States. Of these, 257 (23.7%) were selected to participate based on program capacity and applicant qualifications. Participants were trained by 149 mentors, teachers, and staff. Of the N = 95 participants responding to the individual-level survey, 95.7% agreed or strongly agreed with statements of satisfaction with the program, 96.8% planned to pursue further education, and 73.7% attributed increased interest in a variety of HIV science topics to the program. Qualitative findings suggest strong associations between mentorship, exposure to scientific content, and positive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence to support the feasibility and impact of novel DEI programs in HIV research to engage and encourage racially and ethnically diverse scholars to pursue careers in HIV science.

Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative (CDEIPI): Developing Career Pathways for Early-Stage Scholars From Racial and Ethnic Groups Underrepresented in HIV Science and Medicine.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need to increase diversity among scientific investigators in the HIV research field to be more reflective of communities highly affected by the HIV epidemic. Thus, it is critical to promote the inclusion and advancement of early-stage scholars from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in HIV science and medicine. METHODS: To widen the HIV research career pathway for early-stage scholars from underrepresented minority groups, the National Institutes of Health supported the development of the Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative (CDEIPI). This program was created through partnerships between CFARs and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions throughout the United States. RESULTS: Seventeen CFARs and more than 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions have participated in this initiative to date. Programs were designed for the high school (8), undergraduate (13), post baccalaureate (2), graduate (12), and postdoctoral (4) levels. Various pedagogical approaches were used including didactic seminar series, intensive multiday workshops, summer residential programs, and mentored research internship opportunities. During the first 18 months of the initiative, 257 student scholars participated in CDEIPI programs including 150 high school, 73 undergraduate, 3 post baccalaureate, 27 graduate, and 4 postdoctoral students. CONCLUSION: Numerous student scholars from a wide range of educational levels, geographic backgrounds, and racial and ethnic minority groups have engaged in CDEIPI programs. Timely and comprehensive program evaluation data will be critical to support a long-term commitment to this unique training initiative.