Building an HIV Learning Health Care Community for Youth in Florida: Opportunities and Challenges.

In Florida, 33% of new HIV infections among men and 21% of new infections among women are among those younger than 29 years of age. We describe the development of a Learning Health Care Community for youth (Y-LHCC) in Orange County, FL. Its core implementation team (iTeam) was composed of representatives from community agencies and academics, whose work was informed by data from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and regional research, in-depth interviews (IDIs) with agency representatives, and a pilot implementation of Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI) to improve service provision. IDIs revealed limited programming specifically for youth, significant structural challenges providing them with PrEP, and differences in use of evidence-based behavioral interventions to improve HIV services. FDOH provided data on new HIV infections, linkage to care, viral suppression, and PrEP coverage, however, limitations such as minimal data on PrEP referrals and use, agency level data, and inability to generate data quarterly (which would facilitate program improvement) were encountered. Thirty staff members from five agencies serving youth in Orange County participated in TMI training. About half the agency staff (n = 16) completed at least three of the four online training sessions. MI skills improved from pre- (n = 28; M = 1.96) to post TMI training (n = 11; M = 2.48, SD = 0.57); (t(37) = - 3.14, p = 0.0033). The iTeam held seven remote meetings and two in-person half-day meetings at the end of the study, during which they reassessed areas of focus for improving youth services. They also reiterated their commitment to continuing to meet beyond the study period and to engage other agencies in the newly established coalition. Findings highlight the potential of creating a Y-LHCC in Florida as well as some of the challenges that will need to be overcome to achieve ending the HIV Epidemic goals for young people in the region.

RESUMEN: En Florida, el 33% y 21% de las nuevas infecciones del VIH entre hombres y mujeres, respectivamente, fueron entre personas menores de 29 años de edad. Describimos el desarrollo de una Comunidad de Aprendizaje de Atención Médica para jóvenes (Y-LHCC) en el Condado de Orange, FL. Su equipo central de implementación (iTeam) estuvo compuesto de representantes de agencias comunitarias y académicos, cuyo trabajo se basó en datos del Departamento de Salud de Florida (FDOH) e investigaciones regionales, entrevistas en profundidad con representantes de agencias y un programa piloto de implementación de la Entrevista Motivacional a la Medida (TMI) para mejorar la prestación de servicios. Las entrevistas revelaron poca programación específica para los jóvenes, desafíos estructurales significativos para proporcionarles PrEP, y diferencias en el uso de intervenciones conductuales basadas en evidencia para mejorar los servicios de VIH. El FDOH proporcionó datos sobre nuevas infecciones por el VIH, vinculación con la atención médica, supresión viral y cobertura de PrEP. Sin embargo, se encontraron limitaciones en la data, tales como datos limitados sobre derivaciones u uso de PrEP, falta de datos a nivel de agencia, e incapacidad para generar datos trimestrales (lo que facilitaría la mejora de programas en la agencia). Treinta miembros del personal de cinco agencias que atienden a jóvenes en el Condado de Orange participaron en la capacitación de TMI. Aproximadamente la mitad del personal de la agencia (n = 16) completó al menos tres de las cuatro sesiones de capacitación remota. Las habilidades de MI mejoraron desde antes (n = 28; M = 1.96, SD = .042) hasta después del entrenamiento de TMI (n = 11; M = 2.48, SD = 0.57); (t(37) = − 3.14, p = 0.0033). El iTeam realizó siete reuniones remotas y dos reuniones en persona de medio día al final del estudio, durante las cuales reevaluaron las áreas de enfoque para mejorar los servicios para jóvenes. También reiteraron su compromiso de continuar reuniéndose más allá del período de estudio y de involucrar a otras agencias en la coalición recién establecida. Los hallazgos destacan el potencial de crear un Y-LHCC en Florida, así como algunos de los desafíos que deberán superarse para lograr los objetivos de terminar con la epidemia de VIH para los jóvenes de la región.

Optimizing Individual HIV Testing and Counseling for Emerging Adult Sexual Minority Men (Aged 18 to 24) in Relationships: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Adjunct Communication Components.

The majority of new HIV infections in the US occur among sexual minority men (SMM) with older adolescent and emerging adult SMM at the highest risk. Those in relationships face unique HIV prevention challenges. Existing sexual HIV transmission risk interventions for male couples often encounter implementation challenges and engaging younger SMM early in relationships may be particularly difficult. This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the acceptibility and feasibility of We Test HIV testing - a behavioral health intervention tailored for younger SMM in realtionships - and generated preliminary estimates of effect size. The intervention comprises two adjunct moduls - video-based communication skills training as well as communication goal setting and planning - delivered in conjunction with routine HIV testing and counseling in individual or dyadic formats. A sample of 69 SMM aged 17 to 24 were recruited online. Following baseline assessment, youth were randomized to receive either the experimental, We Test, intervention or routine HIV testing (the control condition). Follow-up assessments were completed 3 and 6 months post-baseline. Results suggested the study was feasible and the individually delivered format was acceptible. We Test HIV testing was associated with significant improvements in communication skills. In addition, youth who remained in a relationship experienced an increase in communal coping to reduce HIV infection risk and relationship power. While groups did not differ with respect to condomless anal sex with casual partners, these psycho-social constructs (communication, communal coping with HIV prevention, and relationship power) may serve as mediators of intervention effects on sexual risk reduction in a larger study.

Digital Adaptive Behavioral Interventions to Improve HIV Prevention and Care: Innovations in Intervention Approach and Experimental Design.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent advances in digital technologies can be leveraged to adapt HIV prevention and treatment services to the rapidly changing needs of individuals in everyday life. However, to fully take advantage of these technologies, it is critical to effectively integrate them with human-delivered components. Here, we introduce a new experimental approach for optimizing the integration and adaptation of digital and human-delivered behavioral intervention components for HIV prevention and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: Typically, human-delivered components can be adapted on a relatively slow timescale (e.g., every few months or weeks), while digital components can be adapted much faster (e.g., every few days or hours). Thus, the systematic integration of these components requires an experimental approach that involves sequential randomizations on multiple timescales. Selecting an experimental approach should be motivated by the type of adaptive intervention investigators would like to develop, and the scientific questions they have about its construction.

Weight Discrimination and Health Risk Behavior in Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Minority Adults.

BACKGROUND: People with obesity face significant discrimination due to their weight. Exposure to such discrimination is associated with poor health outcomes. Little is known about pathways that explain that association, and even less is known about those pathways in racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities. Health risk behaviors may serve as one such pathway. PURPOSE: We examined associations between weight discrimination and health risk behaviors and assessed whether associations are moderated by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. METHODS: Quota sampling was used to oversample Black (36%), Latino (36%), and sexual minority (29%) adults (n = 2,632) who completed an online survey. Using regression analysis, health risk behaviors (maladaptive eating behaviors, physical inactivity, sitting, smoking, alcohol use, and sleep disturbance) were predicted from previous experience with weight discrimination while controlling for demographic characteristics, BMI, and depressive symptoms. Additional analyses tested for interactions between weight discrimination and key demographic variables (i.e., gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual minority status). RESULTS: Weight discrimination was associated with greater emotional eating, binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, cigarette smoking, problematic alcohol use, and sleep disturbance. Gender moderated the association between weight discrimination and binge eating, alcohol use, and physical activity, with stronger effects observed in men than women. Exploratory analyses provided limited evidence for differential effects of weight discrimination across specific combinations of intersecting identities. CONCLUSIONS: Weight discrimination was associated with engagement in unhealthy behaviors and relationships were largely similar across diverse demographic groups. Health risk behaviors may represent a key pathway through which weight discrimination harms health.

People with high body weight remain one of the most stigmatized groups in the USA and face significant discrimination due to their weight. Experiencing weight discrimination is associated with poor health, yet little is known about the underlying pathways that explain this association and even less is known about those pathways in socially marginalized groups. We investigated unhealthy behavior as a possible a pathway by assessing associations between weight discrimination and several health risk behaviors and identifying whether those associations vary by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. A diverse sample of 2,632 U.S. adults completed an online survey. Previous experience with weight discrimination was found to be associated with greater emotional eating, binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, cigarette smoking, problematic alcohol use, and poor sleep. The association between weight discrimination and binge eating, alcohol use, and physical activity was stronger in men than in women, yet exploratory analyses provided limited evidence for differential effects of weight discrimination across specific combinations of intersecting identities. Weight discrimination was associated with engagement in unhealthy behaviors and associations were largely similar across participants from diverse demographic groups. Health risk behaviors may represent a key pathway through which weight discrimination harms health.

Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills Model in Youth Newly Starting Antiretroviral Treatment.

An understanding of adherence among youth newly starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical but understudied. The information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model is often used to understand health behaviors, but has rarely been studied in youth with HIV. In a multi-site sample of 153 youth newly starting ART, structural equation modeling was utilized to test this model. The model was generally supported with information and behavioral skills directly related to the decision to adhere, while motivation was indirectly related through behavioral skills. Results suggest that interventions focusing on improving IMB constructs for medication adherence are important for preventing non-adherence in youth newly starting ART.

RESUMEN: El entendimiento de la adherencia en jóvenes que recién comienzan ART es fundamental, pero se ha estudiado poco. El modelo de información-motivación-habilidades conductuales (IMB, por sus siglas en inglés) se usa a menudo para comprender los comportamientos de salud, pero rara vez se ha estudiado en jóvenes que viven con el VIH. En una muestra de múltiples sitios de 153 jóvenes que recién comenzaban ART, se utilizó el análisis de ecuaciones estructurales para probar este modelo. En general, el modelo fue apoyado con información y habilidades conductuales directamente relacionadas con la decisión de adherirse, mientras que la motivación se relacionó indirectamente a través de las habilidades conductuales. Los resultados sugieren que las intervenciones que se enfocan en mejorar los aspectos del modelo IMB para la adherencia al medicamento son importantes para prevenir la falta de adherencia en los jóvenes que recién comienzan ART.

Executive functions mediate the association between alcohol use and declarative memory symptoms in daily life.

Alcohol use is associated with memory problems in young adults with HIV, but the cognitive mechanisms of that association are not known. Sixty adults (aged 19-24 years) living with HIV were administered the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test to assess alcohol use, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for self-reported executive functions, and the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) for dailiy memory functioning. Controlling for mood, self-reported executive functions fully mediated the relationship between alcohol use and memory (indirect effect b=.568, 95%CI [.209,.888]). Findings suggest that self-reported executive dysregulation of memory processes (e.g., Strategic encoding and retrieval) may drive the effects of alcohol use on daily memory symptoms.

Maintaining Program Fidelity in a Changing World: National Implementation of a School-Based HIV Prevention Program.

Large-scale, evidence-based interventions face challenges to program fidelity of implementation. We developed implementation strategies to support teachers implementing an evidence-based HIV prevention program in schools, Focus on Youth in The Caribbean (FOYC) and Caribbean Informed Parents and Children Together (CImPACT) in The Bahamas. We examined the effects of these implementation strategies on teachers' implementation in the subsequent year after the initial implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 79 Grade 6 teachers in 24 government elementary schools. Teachers completed training workshops and a pre-implementation questionnaire to record their characteristics and perceptions that might affect their program fidelity. School coordinators and peer mentors provided teachers with monitoring, feedback, and mentoring. In Year 1, teachers on average taught 79.3% of the sessions and 80.8% of core activities; teachers in Year 2 covered 84.2% of sessions and 72.9% of the core activities. Teachers with "good" or "excellent" school coordinators in the second year taught significantly more sessions on average (7.8 vs. 7.0, t = 2.04, P < 0.05) and more core activities (26.3 vs. 23.0, t = 2.41, P < 0.05) than teachers with "satisfactory" coordinators. Teachers who had a "good" or "satisfactory" mentor taught more sessions than teachers who did not have a mentor (7.9 vs. 7.3; t = 2.22; P = 0.03). Two-level mixed-effects model analysis indicated that teachers' program fidelity in Year 1, confidence in the execution of core activities, and school coordinators' performance were significantly associated with Year 2 implementation dose. Implementation of FOYC + CImPACT was significantly associated with improved student outcomes. Teachers maintained high fidelity to a comprehensive HIV prevention program over 2 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future program implementers should consider additional implementation support to improve the implementation of school-based programs.

"Do I Have a Memory Problem? I Can't Recall": An Evaluation of Measurement Invariance in Subjective Reporting of Memory Symptoms among Persons with and without Objective HIV-Associated Memory Impairment.

OBJECTIVE: Memory symptoms and objective impairment are common in HIV disease and are associated with disability. A paradoxical issue is that objective episodic memory failures can interfere with accurate recall of memory symptoms. The present study assessed whether responses on a self-report scale of memory symptoms demonstrate measurement invariance in persons with and without objective HIV-associated memory impairment. METHOD: In total, 505 persons with HIV completed the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). Objective memory impairment (n = 141) was determined using a 1-SD cutoff on clinical tests of episodic memory. PRMQ measurement invariance was assessed by confirmatory factor analyses examining a one-factor model with increasing cross-group equality constraints imposed on factor loadings and item thresholds (i.e., configural, weak, and strong invariance). RESULTS: Configural model fit indicated that identical items measured a one-factor model for both groups. Comparison to the weak model indicated that factor loadings were equivalent across groups. However, there was evidence of partial strong invariance, with two PRMQ item thresholds differing across memory impairment groups. Post hoc analyses using a 1.5-SD memory impairment cutoff (n = 77) revealed both partial weak and partial strong invariance, such that PRMQ item loadings differed across memory groups for three items. CONCLUSIONS: The PRMQ demonstrated a robust factor structure among persons with and without objective HIV-associated memory impairment. However, on select PRMQ items, individuals with memory impairment reported observed scores that were relatively higher than their latent score, while items were more strongly associated with the memory factor in a group with greater memory impairment.

Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI): A Pilot Implementation-Effectiveness Trial to Promote MI Competence in Adolescent HIV Clinics.

This brief report describes results of piloted Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI). Tailoring focused on site-specific training needs, target patient behaviors, and implementation facilitators and barriers that staff anticipated. Participating staff (N = 31) at two adolescent HIV clinics completed a pre-training qualitative interview (N = 27), and MI competency assessments based on three pre- and six post-training standard patient role-plays (N = 27). Results included pre- to post-training MI competence improvement (t (153) = - 4.13, p ≤ 0.001) and change in competency category distribution (X2 = (2, N = 155) = 15.72, p ≤ 0.001), providing initial support for the implementation of TMI in adolescent HIV clinic settings.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Care Continuum of Youth Living with HIV: Qualitative Study of the Scale It Up Program Clinical Sites.

The study objective was to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the clinics' ability to provide continuous healthcare services to youth (15-24 years) living with HIV (YLWH). One focused semi-structured interview was conducted with each HIV clinic site-resulting in ten interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques assisted by NVIVO coding software and themes indicating barriers and facilitators to providing uninterrupted healthcare were elicited. Six themes were identified that affected the care continuum of YLWH: Timeframe of clinic preparation to address COVID-19 restrictions; impact on treatment cascade monitoring data; impact on patient care; impact on staff and services offered; software use and virtual visits; community impact. With careful planning and preparation, clinics were able to successfully implement a process of care that adapted to COVID-19 restrictions. Guidance is provided on how healthcare facilities can effectively incorporate strategies to provide continued services during pandemics and natural disasters.

Using the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (EPIS) Framework to prepare for the implementation of evidence-based practices into adolescent HIV settings.

Despite advances in evidence-based practices (EBP) to support HIV prevention and treatment, youth ages 13-24 experience significant disparities in HIV risk and outcomes. An important factor in this disparity is poor EBP implementation, yet implementation research is limited, particularly in youth-serving settings. This study used the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework to guide the implementation of four Motivational Interviewing (MI) and MI-framed interventions into youth-serving HIV prevention and treatment settings. Key stakeholders (n = 153) across 13 sites completed pre-implementation interviews. Stakeholders' comments identified two critical factors for effective implementation: fit with the patient population and provider receptivity, including concerns about scope of practice, buy-in, and time. Stakeholders recommended strategies for structuring training, fidelity monitoring, and facilitating implementation including engaging informal leaders, collaboratively developing the implementation strategy, and site-wide implementation. Results highlight the importance of pre-implementation contextual assessment and strategic planning for identifying provider concerns and developing responsive implementation strategies.

RESUMEN: A pesar de los avances en las prácticas basadas en evidencia (EBP, por sus siglas en inglés) para apoyar la prevención y el tratamiento del VIH, los jóvenes de 13 a 24 años atraviesan disparidades significativas en el riesgo y los desenlaces del VIH. Un factor importante en esta disparidad es la implementación deficiente de las EBP, aunque la investigación sobre la implementación es limitada, particularmente en entornos que atienden a jóvenes. Este estudio utilizó el marco de Exploración, Preparación, Implementación, Mantenimiento (EPIS) para guiar la implementación de cuatro entrevistas motivacionales (MI) e intervenciones enmarcadas en MI en entornos de prevención y tratamiento del VIH que atienden a jóvenes. Las partes interesadas clave (n = 153) en 13 sitios completaron las entrevistas previas a la implementación. Los comentarios de las partes interesadas identificaron dos factores críticos para una implementación efectiva: idoneidad para la población de pacientes y receptividad de los proveedores, incluidas las preocupaciones sobre el alcance de la práctica, la aceptación y el tiempo. Las partes interesadas recomendaron estrategias para estructurar la capacitación, monitorear la fidelidad, y facilitar la implementación, incluyendo la participación de líderes informales, el desarrollo colaborativo de la estrategia de implementación y la implementación en todo el sitio. Los resultados destacan la importancia de la evaluación contextual previa a la implementación y la planificación estratégica para identificar las preocupaciones de los proveedores y desarrollar estrategias de implementación que respondan a ellas.

Barriers and facilitators to implementing a motivational interviewing-based intervention: a multi-site study of organizations caring for youth living with HIV.

Understanding possible barriers and facilitators to effective implementation of evidence-based interventions to help high-risk youth prevent and manage HIV is crucial for their scale-up. This manuscript analyzes qualitative interview data collected during the early phase implementation of a motivational interviewing (MI) based intervention at 10 HIV care clinics in the United States providing services to youth. Using the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (EPIS) framework to understand the implementation and the dynamic adaptation process (DAP) model to balance notions of intervention fidelity and flexibility, providers and stakeholders at each site (N = 97) were interviewed prior to implementation to gather their perspectives on organizational readiness for the intervention, as well as provider and client characteristics. The interviewers summarized their experience with rapid feedback forms (RFFs). Data extracted from the RFFs highlighted anticipated barriers to and facilitators of the proposed MI-based intervention, with the EPIS framework used to organize these findings. Study findings illustrate the inner and outer contextual factors that affect implementation and denote the points at which the MI-based intervention may be tailored to fit the unique context of a clinic while remaining faithful to the intervention's original design.

Barriers and facilitators to scaling up Healthy Choices, a motivational interviewing intervention for youth living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: This study included Community Health Workers and their supervisors from HIV clinical care teams who participated in the Healthy Choices intervention program. Healthy Choices is a Motivational Interviewing-based intervention aimed at improving medication adherence and reducing alcohol use for adolescents and emerging adults ages 16-24 living with HIV. In this study, the intervention was "scaled up" for delivery by local HIV care providers in real-world clinic settings. METHODS: Providers (N = 21) completed semi-structured interviews (N = 29) about their experiences with intervention scale-up. Rigorous thematic analyses were conducted within discussions of barriers and facilitators of intervention implementation. RESULTS: Three dominant thematic areas emerged from the data: (1) perceptions of the Healthy Choices intervention, (2) engaging high risk YLH in in-person behavior interventions, and (3) perspectives on implementation of the intervention using local staff. Results offer insights into implementation of MI-based interventions for adolescents and emerging adults in clinic settings using local clinical staff instead of dedicated research staff. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, scaled-up intervention programs for youth are challenged to maintain scientific rigor, provide rigorous training and supports, and offer an attractive and engaging program.

Healthy Choices Intervention is Associated with Reductions in Stigma Among Youth Living with HIV in the United States (ATN 129).

Considering the lack of validated stigma reduction interventions for youth living with HIV (YLWH), we evaluated effects of the Healthy Choices intervention on HIV-related stigma among YLWH. We analyzed data from the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network protocol 129, multi-site randomized controlled trial, applying latent growth curve modeling with two linear slopes estimating changes in Berger's Stigma Scale pre-intervention, 16, 28, and 52 weeks post-intervention, as well as the trajectory of stigma scores over the follow-up period (N = 183). Expected value for the growth intercept was statistically significant (Bintercept = 2.53; 95% CI 2.32, 2.73; p < 0.001), as were differences in the change from baseline to 16-week follow-up (Bintercept slope1 = - 0.02; 95% CI - 0.04, 0.01; p = 0.034). Expected value of the slope factor measuring growth over the follow-up period was non-significant suggesting that stigma scores were stable from 28 to 52 weeks. Our findings warrant replication and additional research comparing effects of this intervention to counterfactual controls.

RESUMEN: Teniendo en cuenta la falta de intervenciones validadas de reducción del estigma para los jóvenes que viven con el VIH (PVVS), evaluamos los efectos de la intervención Healthy Choices sobre el estigma entre los PVVS. Analizamos los datos del ensayo controlado aleatorio de múltiples sitios del protocolo 129 de Adolescent Medicine Trials Network, aplicando un modelo de curva de crecimiento latente con dos pendientes lineales que estiman los cambios de Berger's Stigma Scale antes de la intervención, ya a las 16, 28 y 52 semanas después de la intervención, así como la trayectoria de los niveles de estigma durante el período de seguimiento (N = 183). El valor esperado para el intercepto de crecimiento fue estadísticamente significativo (Bintercept = 2.53 IC del 95%: 2.32, 2.73 p < 0.001), así como las diferencias en el cambio desde el inicio hasta el seguimiento de 16 semanas (Bintercept slope 1 = -0.02 IC del 95% IC: -0.04, 0.01 p = 0.034). El valor esperado del factor que mide el crecimiento durante el período de seguimiento no fue significativo, sugiere que los niveles de estigma se mantuvieron estables de 28 a 52 semanas. Nuestros resultados justifican la replicación y la investigación adicional al comparar la intervención con comparativos.

Developmental Barriers to Couples' HIV Testing and Counseling Among Adolescent Sexual Minority Males: A Dyadic Socio-ecological Perspective.

Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) is now a standard of care for partnered sexual minority men. While adolescent sexual minority men (ASMM; ages 15-19) face disproportionate HIV risk, the emergent nature of relationships and communication skills may present challenges to accessing and engaging in CHTC. This study utilized qualitative data from 28 ASMM recruited in 4 urban centers in the USA during the formative stage of Adolescent Trials Network study ATN-156. Participants were cis-male, HIV-negative, and in a relationship with a similarly-aged cis-male partner. Thematic analysis indicated low and high levels of commitment were barriers to CHTC. Concerns about caregiver attitudes towards HIV testing were salient. Adolescents' perception of structural barriers highlighted reliance on caregiver resources, which limited access to sexual health services. Prevention programming must address structural barriers to access encountered by adolescents. ASMM in relationships may benefit from programming that includes options for individual and dyadic participation.

Drug Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Unsuppressed HIV Who Use Alcohol: Identifying Patterns of Comorbid Drug Use and Associations with Mental Health.

Youth living with HIV (YLWH; aged 16-24) are at elevated risk of alcohol and drug use. Studies in older populations have identified patterns or profiles of multiple substance use differentially associated with mental health and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence. No studies of YLWH have yet examined such patterns. A sample of 179 YLWH, reporting ART non-adherence and alcohol use, were recruited at five Adolescent Trials Network clinics in urban areas of the US between November 2014 and August 2017. Participants completed the Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) to assess substance use involvement scores, and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Latent Profile Analysis identified three substance use patterns: minimal illicit drug use (15.1%), cannabis only (56.4%), and global polysubstance use (28.5%). Global polysubstance users experienced more mental health problems compared to the minimal illicit drug use group. The co-occurrence of drug use with alcohol was common among these YLWH-all of whom reported ART adherence problems-indicating the importance of interventions capable of addressing multiple substance use rather than alcohol alone.

Provider behaviors that predict motivational statements in adolescents and young adults with HIV: a study of clinical communication using the Motivational Interviewing framework.

Medical care providers' use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) is linked to improved medication adherence, viral load, and associated behaviors in adolescents and young adults living with HIV. Mastering MI is difficult for busy providers; however, tailoring MI training to the specific MI communication strategies most relevant for HIV treatment context may be a strategy to increase proficiency. The present study aimed to identify communication strategies likely to elicit motivational statements among adolescent-young adult patients living with HIV. Language used by MI-exposed providers during 80 HIV medical clinic visits was transcribed and coded to characterize patient-provider communication within the MI framework. Sequential analysis, an approach to establish empirical support for the order of behavioral events, found patients were more likely to express motivational statements after provider questions phrased to elicit motivation, reflections of motivational statements, and statements emphasizing patients' decision-making autonomy. Patients were more likely to express amotivational statements when providers asked questions phrased to elicit amotivational statements or reflected amotivational language. Training providers to strategically phrase their questions and reflections to elicit change language and to emphasize patients' autonomy may be critical skills for working with adolescents and young adults living with HIV.

Outcomes From a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial of Weight Loss Strategies for African American Adolescents With Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Minority adolescents are at highest risk for obesity and extreme obesity; yet, there are few clinical trials targeting African American adolescents with obesity. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to develop an adaptive family-based behavioral obesity treatment for African American adolescents using a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design. METHODS: Fit Families was a SMART where 181 African American adolescents (67% female) aged 12-17 were first randomized to office-based versus home-based behavioral skills treatment delivered from a Motivational Interviewing foundation. After 3 months, nonresponders to first phase treatment were rerandomized to continued home-based behavioral skills treatment or contingency management with voucher-based reinforcement for adolescent weight loss and for caregiver adherence to the program. All interventions were delivered by community health workers. The primary outcome was treatment retention and percent overweight. RESULTS: All adolescents reduced percent overweight by -3.20%; there were no significant differences in percent overweight based on treatment sequence. Adolescents receiving home-based delivery in Phase 1 and contingency management in Phase 2 completed significantly more sessions than those receiving office-based treatment and continued skills without CM (M = 8.03, SD = 3.24 and M = 6.62, SD = 2.95, respectively). The effect of contingency management was strongest among older and those with lower baseline confidence. Younger adolescents experienced greater weight reductions when receiving continued skills (-4.90% compared with -.02%). CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral skills training can be successfully delivered to African American adolescents with obesity and their caregivers by community health workers when using a home-based service model with incentives. More potent interventions are needed to increase reductions in percent overweight and may need to be developmentally tailored for younger and older adolescents.

Adolescent HIV Healthcare Providers' Competencies in Motivational Interviewing Using a Standard Patient Model of Fidelity Monitoring.

The goal of this project is to describe adolescent HIV care providers' competence in Motivational Interviewing (MI) using a standard patient interaction model of fidelity assessment. Providers (N = 151) at 11 clinics completed monthly MI role plays. The MI Coach Rating Scale was utilized to assess MI skill. Despite mean differences in baseline MI ability by provider type (medical providers, psychologists/social workers, other), when examined together, only clinic had a significant main effect. Aspects of the clinic environment may have a greater impact on providers' baseline MI ability than their job type. Future research should continue to explore these clinic factors.

Developing Machine Learning Models for Behavioral Coding.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research is to develop a machine learning supervised classification model to automatically code clinical encounter transcripts using a behavioral code scheme. METHODS: We first evaluated the efficacy of eight state-of-the-art machine learning classification models to recognize patient-provider communication behaviors operationalized by the motivational interviewing framework. Data were collected during the course of a single weight loss intervention session with 37 African American adolescents and their caregivers. We then tested the transferability of the model to a novel treatment context, 80 patient-provider interactions during routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinic visits. RESULTS: Of the eight models tested, the support vector machine model demonstrated the best performance, achieving a .680 F1-score (a function of model precision and recall) in adolescent and .639 in caregiver sessions. Adding semantic and contextual features improved accuracy with 75.1% of utterances in adolescent and 73.8% in caregiver sessions correctly coded. With no modification, the model correctly classified 72.0% of patient-provider utterances in HIV clinical encounters with reliability comparable to human coders (k = .639). CONCLUSIONS: The development of a validated approach for automatic behavioral coding offers an efficient alternative to traditional, resource-intensive methods with the potential to dramatically accelerate the pace of outcomes-oriented behavioral research. The knowledge gained from computer-driven behavioral research can inform clinical practice by providing clinicians with empirically supported communication strategies to tailor their conversations with patients. Lastly, automatic behavioral coding is a critical first step toward fully automated eHealth/mHealth (electronic/mobile Health) behavioral interventions.