Utility of Respondent Driven Sampling to Reach Disadvantaged Emerging Adults for Assessment of Substance Use, Weight, and Sexual Behaviors.

Emerging adulthood often entails heightened risk-taking with potential life-long consequences, and research on risk behaviors is needed to guide prevention programming, particularly in under-served and difficult to reach populations. This study evaluated the utility of Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS), a peer-driven methodology that corrects limitations of snowball sampling, to reach at-risk African American emerging adults from disadvantaged urban communities. Initial "seed" participants from the target group recruited peers, who then recruited their peers in an iterative process (110 males, 234 females; M age = 18.86 years). Structured field interviews assessed common health risk factors, including substance use, overweight/obesity, and sexual behaviors. Established gender-and age-related associations with risk factors were replicated, and sample risk profiles and prevalence estimates compared favorably with matched samples from representative U.S. national surveys. Findings supported the use of RDS as a sampling method and grassroots platform for research and prevention with community-dwelling risk groups.

The Relationship of Religiosity, Spirituality, Substance Abuse, and Depression Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM).

HIV infection rates continue to disproportionately affect Black men who have sex with men (Black MSM) compared to other groups. Research has shown that higher rates of substance use and higher levels of depression are positively correlated with higher sexual risk behavior, and little research has examined relationships between high levels of religiosity and spirituality prevalent in Black culture and issues of substance use and depression among Black MSM. This study did just that and found a relationship between religiosity, spirituality, and risk behavior. These relationships suggest that future HIV prevention models might incorporate religiosity and spirituality to increase the efficacy of risk reduction interventions for Black MSM.

The Relationship Between HIV Risk, High-Risk Behavior, Religiosity, and Spirituality Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): An Exploratory Study.

Blacks in the USA, including black men who have sex with men (MSM), tend to have stronger religious and spiritual affiliations compared with other racial/ethnic populations. HIV and STD incidence rates continue to rise among Black MSM. Using data from the CDC Brothers y Hermanos (ByHS) project, this study examined correlations between high-risk behavior, e.g., substance use and high-risk sexual behavior (e.g., condom use history, unprotected sexual intercourse, HIV infection status, and STD infection status) religiosity, spirituality, age, among Black MSM (N = 1141). This exploratory study examined whether religiosity and spirituality were associated with high-risk behavior and high-risk sexual behavior among Black MSM. Religiosity and spirituality indices were compiled from the ByHS data. The religiosity index was significantly associated with HIV infection and use of cocaine, crack, and poppers as well as marginally associated with ecstasy use. Spirituality was significantly associated with HIV infection status, STD infection status, alcohol use, and crack use. Given these relationships, current and future HIV prevention models targeting Black MSM should consider the potential importance of the roles of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of Black MSM to increase the efficacy of risk reduction interventions.

EXPERIENCE OF FORCED SEX AND SUBSEQUENT SEXUAL, DRUG, AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES: AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC WOMEN IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study examined African American and Hispanic women's (N = 1,509) self-reports of unwanted forced sex and its association with behavioral and mental health outcomes after the event. METHODS: Twenty percent of the women had experienced forced sex (1st occurrence at age 15 years or younger for 10%, 1st occurrence at older than 15 years of age for 10%). RESULTS: Regardless of when forced sex 1st occurred, women were more likely to have engaged in unprotected vaginal and anal sex, to have had multiple unprotected sex partners, to have sexually transmitted infections, to have reported binge drinking and illicit drug use, and to exhibit distress and have received mental health counseling. CONCLUSIONS: Forced sex may have wide-ranging behavioral and mental health consequences years later.

Social networks and substance use among at-risk emerging adults living in disadvantaged urban areas in the southern United States: a cross-sectional naturalistic study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Substance use and risk-taking are common during emerging adulthood, a transitional period when peer influences often increase and family influences decrease. Investigating relationships between social network features and substance use can inform community-based prevention programs. This study investigated whether substance use among emerging adults living in disadvantaged urban areas was influenced by peer and family social network messages that variously encouraged and discouraged substance use. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, naturalistic field study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Lower-income neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama, USA with 344 participants (110 males, 234 females, ages 15-25 years; mean = 18.86 years), recruited via respondent-driven sampling. MEASUREMENTS: During structured interviews conducted in community locations, the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test assessed substance use and related problems. Predictor variables were network characteristics, including presence of substance-using peers, messages from friends and family members about substance use and network sources for health information. FINDINGS: Higher substance involvement was associated with friend and family encouragement of use and having close peer network members who used substances (Ps < 0.001). Peer discouragement of substance use was associated with reduced risk (b = - 1.46, P < 0.05), whereas family discouragement had no protective association. CONCLUSIONS: Social networks appear to be important in both promoting and preventing substance use in disadvantaged young adults in the United States.

Religiosity, spirituality, and HIV risk behaviors among African American women from four rural counties in the southeastern U.S.

In a cross-sectional survey of 1,013 African American women from rural Alabama and North Carolina, we examined the relationship of (1) organizational religiosity (i.e., religious service attendance), (2) non-organizational religiosity (e.g., reading religious materials), and (3) spirituality with these outcomes: women's reports of their sexual behaviors and perceptions of their partners' risk characteristics. Women with high non-organizational religiosity, compared with low, had fewer sex partners in the past 12 months (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42, 0.80) and were less likely to have concurrent partnerships (aPR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.73). Similar results were observed for spirituality, and protective but weaker associations were observed for organizational religiosity. Weak associations were observed between organizational religiosity, non-organizational religiosity, and spirituality with partners' risk characteristics. Further exploration of how religiosity and spirituality are associated with protective sexual behaviors is needed to promote safe sex for African American women.

Finding Common Ground in Patient-Centred Care: Consensus, Communication and Conversations for Change.

Fooks et al. (2015) propose patient-centred care and engagement as "levers for change" in a healthcare system increasingly challenged to care for patients living with complex chronic illness. Patient-centred care, engagement and experience are presented as inherently relational concepts, but who is included under that relational umbrella is less clear. Using the rubric of "finding common ground" from the model of patient-centred care described by Hudon et al. (2011), I argue for including provider perspectives, not just patient/family. Otherwise the envisioned conversations of "change" will be missing the voices of those expected to facilitate the meaningful relational engagement of patients and the process of shared decision-making. I also discuss relational communication competence as a key factor in successful patient-engagement, patient-centred care and, ultimately, the healthcare experience. Without attention to both these elements - broadening the understanding of therapeutic relationship to encompass all contributing stakeholders and the relational communication competency so necessary to this endeavour - whatever consensus we reach will be missing important aspects related to actionable content and process, both of which are needed to guide the development of relevant metrics. Without metrics, we will lack rigorous "evidence" with which to make the case that patient-centred care and engagement are indeed "levers" for positive system reform.

Sexual risk typologies and their relationship with early parenthood and STI outcomes among urban African-American emerging adults: a cross-sectional latent profile analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Identifying sexual risk patterns associated with HIV/sexually transmitted infections (STI) and early parenthood within population subgroups is critical for targeting risk reduction interventions. METHODS: Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify sexual behaviour typologies to predict sexual risk outcomes among 274 (63% female) unmarried, sexually active African-American emerging adults (M age=19.31 years) living in disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods. Participants were enrolled in a larger cross-sectional observational study of risk and protective behaviours. LCA defined membership into discrete risk classes based on reported sex risk behaviours. RESULTS: Three groups were identified: The 'low contraception use' risk class (32%) had low rates of condom or other birth control use, moderate rates of sexual initiation before age 16 years, and the highest pregnancy/early parenthood and STI rates. The predominately male 'early sex' risk class (32%) had higher rates of early initiation and multiple partners, risks that were countered by higher contraception and condom use. Both these risk groups showed higher probability to use substances before sex relative to the 'low sex risk' class (36%), which showed low rates on all risk behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: LCA identified distinct risk clusters that predicted sexual health outcomes and can inform targeted interventions for a minority youth population disproportionately affected by HIV, other STIs, and early parenthood.

Time horizons and substance use among African American youths living in disadvantaged urban areas.

Transitioning from adolescence to full-fledged adulthood is often challenging, and young people who live in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods face additional obstacles and experience disproportionately higher negative outcomes, including substance abuse and related risk behaviors. This study investigated whether substance use among African Americans ages 15 to 25 (M=18.86 years) living in such areas was related to present-dominated time perspectives and higher delay discounting. Participants (N=344, 110 males, 234 females) living in Deep South disadvantaged urban neighborhoods were recruited using Respondent Driven Sampling, an improved peer-referral sampling method suitable for accessing this hard-to-reach target group. Structured field interviews assessed alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use and risk/protective factors, including time perspectives (Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory [ZTPI]) and behavioral impulsivity (delay discounting task). As predicted, substance use was positively related to a greater ZTPI orientation toward present pleasure and a lower tendency to plan and achieve future goals. Although the sample as a whole showed high discounting of delayed rewards, discount rates did not predict substance use. The findings suggest that interventions to lengthen time perspectives and promote enriched views of future possible selves may prevent and reduce substance use among disadvantaged youths. Discontinuities among the discounting and time perspective variables in relation to substance use merit further investigation.

Telephone-based self-change modules help stabilize early natural recovery in problem drinkers.

OBJECTIVE: Self-guided attempts to resolve drinking problems are common, but little is known about the processes by which supportive interventions of lower intensity might promote resolution. This study investigated how brief supportive educational modules delivered as part of an interactive voice response self-monitoring (IVR SM) system helped stabilize initial resolution among otherwise untreated problem drinkers. METHOD: Recently resolved problem drinkers allocated to the intervention group of a randomized controlled trial were offered IVR access for 24 weeks to report daily drinking and hear weekly educational modules designed to support resolution. Using data from the 70 active IVR callers, hierarchical linear models evaluated whether module retrieval reduced subsequent alcohol consumption, including high-risk drinking, and whether module retrieval attenuated the effects on drinking of established proximal risk factors for relapse (e.g., urges, drug use, and weekends). The analyses controlled for initial resolution status (abstinence or low-risk drinking). RESULTS: Urges, drug use, and weekends were associated with increased drinking reports on the next IVR call (all ps < .01), whereas retrieving a module was associated with decreases in next-call drinking reports, including high-risk drinking episodes (p < .05). Module retrieval, however, did not reduce or buffer the effects of urges on drinking. Findings were similar across initially abstinent and low-risk drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: IVR-delivered supportive educational modules may help stabilize initial problem-drinking resolutions, but mechanisms of change deserve more study. The study adds to evidence of the co-occurring negative effects of multiple behavioral and environmental risk factors on the temporal patterning of post-recovery alcohol use.

Utility of an interactive voice response system to assess antiretroviral pharmacotherapy adherence among substance users living with HIV/AIDS in the rural South.

Promoting HIV medication adherence is basic to HIV/AIDS clinical care and reducing transmission risk and requires sound assessment of adherence and risk behaviors such as substance use that may interfere with adherence. The present study evaluated the utility of a telephone-based Interactive Voice Response self-monitoring (IVR SM) system to assess prospectively daily HIV medication adherence and its correlates among rural substance users living with HIV/AIDS. Community-dwelling patients (27 men, 17 women) recruited from a non-profit HIV medical clinic in rural Alabama reported daily medication adherence, substance use, and sexual practices for up to 10 weeks. Daily IVR reports of adherence were compared with short-term IVR-based recall reports over 4- and 7-day intervals. Daily IVR reports were positively correlated with both recall measures over matched intervals. However, 7-day recall yielded higher adherence claims compared to the more contemporaneous daily IVR and 4-day recall measures suggestive of a social desirability bias over the longer reporting period. Nearly one-third of participants (32%) reported adherence rates below the optimal rate of 95% (range=0-100%). Higher IVR-reported daily medication adherence was associated with lower baseline substance use, shorter duration of HIV/AIDS medical care, and higher IVR utilization. IVR SM appears to be a useful telehealth tool for monitoring medication adherence and identifying patients with suboptimal adherence between clinic visits and can help address geographic barriers to care among disadvantaged, rural adults living with HIV/AIDS.

"A man's gonna do what a man wants to do": African American and Hispanic women's perceptions about heterosexual relationships: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: HIV prevention efforts have given limited attention to the relational schemas and scripts of adult heterosexual women. These broader schemas and scripts of romantic and other sexual liaisons, partner selection, relationship dynamics, and power negotiations may help to better understand facilitators and barriers to HIV risk-reduction practices. METHODS: We conducted exploratory qualitative interviews with 60 HIV-uninfected heterosexual African-American women from rural counties in North Carolina and Alabama, and Hispanic women from an urban county in southern Florida. Data were collected for relationship expectations; relationship experiences, and relationship power and decision-making. Interview transcripts underwent computer-assisted thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants had a median age of 34 years (range 18-59), 34% were married or living as married, 39% earned an annual income of $12,000 or less, 12% held less than a high school education, and 54% were employed. Among the Hispanic women, 95% were foreign born. We identified two overarching relationship themes: contradictions between relationship expectations and desires and life circumstances that negated such ideals, and relationship challenges. Within the contradictions theme, we discovered six subthemes: a good man is hard to find; sex can be currency used to secure desired outcomes; compromises and allowances for cheating, irresponsible, and disrespectful behavior; redefining dating; sex just happens; needing relationship validation. The challenges theme centered on two subthemes: uncertainties and miscommunication, and relationship power negotiation. Gender differences in relationship intentions and desires as well as communication styles, the importance of emotional and financial support, and the potential for relationships to provide disappointment were present in all subthemes. In examining HIV risk perceptions, participants largely held that risk for HIV-infection and the need to take precautions were problems of women who differed from them (i.e., abuse drugs, are promiscuous, exchange sex). CONCLUSION: Underlying women's relational schemas was a belief that relationship priorities differed for men and women. Consequently, expectations and allowances for partner infidelity and negligent behaviors were incorporated into their scripts. Moreover, scripts endorsed women's use of sex as currency in relationship formation and endurance, and did not emphasize HIV risk. Both couple- and gender-specific group-level interventions are needed to deconstruct (breakdown) and reconstruct (rewrite) relationship scripts.

Using opioids to treat dyspnea in advanced COPD: attitudes and experiences of family physicians and respiratory therapists.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of family physicians and respiratory therapists in treating advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their attitudes to the use of opioids for dyspnea in this context. DESIGN: Qualitative methodology using one-on-one semistructured interviews. SETTING: Southern New Brunswick (St Stephen to Sussex). PARTICIPANTS: Ten family physicians and 8 respiratory therapists who worked in primary care settings. METHODS: Participant interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, coded conceptually, and thematically analyzed using interpretive description. MAIN FINDINGS: Participants reported that patients with advanced COPD often suffered from inadequate control of their dyspnea in advanced stages and that they saw the potential value of opioids in this context; however, family physicians described discomfort prescribing opioids. Barriers included insufficient knowledge, lack of education and guidelines, and fear of censure. Those with palliative care experience tended to be more comfortable with opioid prescribing. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest an important need to address barriers related to more effective treatment of refractory dyspnea in advanced COPD. Further, findings indicate these efforts should focus on effective palliation and innovative educational initiatives, as well as the development, promotion, and uptake of evidence-based practice guidelines related to prescribing opioids for these patients.

Predictors of utilization of an IVR self-monitoring program by problem drinkers with recent natural resolutions.

BACKGROUND: As part of a randomized controlled trial, problem drinkers who recently initiated natural recovery on their own were offered access to an interactive voice response (IVR) self-monitoring (SM) system as a sobriety maintenance tool during early recovery when relapse risk is high. Because observed IVR utilization was variable, predictors of utilization were evaluated to inform knowledge of populations likely to access and use IVR services. METHODS: Participants were 87 untreated community-dwelling adults who recently initiated sobriety following longstanding high-risk drinking practices and alcohol-related problems (M=16.58 years, SD=10.95). Baseline interviews assessed pre-resolution drinking practices and problems, and behavioral economic (BE) measures of reward preferences (delay discounting, pre-resolution monetary allocation). Participants had IVR access for 24 weeks to report daily drinking and to hear weekly recovery-focused messages. RESULTS: IVR use ranged from 0 to 100%. Frequent (n=28), infrequent (n=42), and non-caller (n=17) groups were identified. Non-callers tended to be younger and to report heavier pre-resolution drinking. Frequent callers (≥70% of IVR days) tended to be older, male non-smokers with higher/stable socio-economic status and lower delay discounting compared to infrequent callers. Premature drop-out typically occurred fairly abruptly and was related to extended binge drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics common in the untreated problem drinker population were associated with higher IVR utilization. This large under-served population segment can be targeted for lower intensity alcohol interventions using an IVR platform.

Effects of interactive voice response self-monitoring on natural resolution of drinking problems: utilization and behavioral economic factors.

OBJECTIVE: Most problem drinkers do not seek help, and many recover on their own. A randomized controlled trial evaluated whether supportive interactive voice response (IVR) self-monitoring facilitated such "natural" resolutions. Based on behavioral economics, effects on drinking outcomes were hypothesized to vary with drinkers' baseline "time horizons," reflecting preferences among commodities of different value available over different delays and with their IVR utilization. METHOD: Recently resolved untreated problem drinkers were randomized to a 24-week IVR self-monitoring program (n = 87) or an assessment-only control condition (n = 98). Baseline interviews assessed outcome predictors including behavioral economic measures of reward preferences (delay discounting, pre-resolution monetary allocation to alcohol vs. savings). Six-month outcomes were categorized as resolved abstinent, resolved nonabstinent, unresolved, or missing. Complier average causal effect (CACE) models examined IVR self-monitoring effects. RESULTS: IVR self-monitoring compliers (≥70% scheduled calls completed) were older and had greater pre-resolution drinking control and lower discounting than noncompliers (<70%). A CACE model interaction showed that observed compliers in the IVR group with shorter time horizons (expressed by greater pre-resolution spending on alcohol than savings) were more likely to attain moderation than abstinent resolutions compared with predicted compliers in the control group with shorter time horizons and with all noncompliers. Intention-to-treat analytical models revealed no IVR-related effects. More balanced spending on savings versus alcohol predicted moderation in both approaches. CONCLUSIONS: IVR interventions should consider factors affecting IVR utilization and drinking outcomes, including person-specific behavioral economic variables. CACE models provide tools to evaluate interventions involving extended participation.

Sexual risk behaviors among African-American and Hispanic women in five counties in the Southeastern United States: 2008-2009.

PURPOSE: We examined sexual risk behaviors and unrecognized HIV infection among heterosexually active African-American and Hispanic women. METHODS: Women not previously diagnosed with HIV infection were recruited in rural counties in North Carolina (African American) and Alabama (African American), and an urban county in southern Florida (Hispanic) using multiple methods. They completed a computer-administered questionnaire and were tested for HIV infection. RESULTS: Between October 2008 and September 2009, 1,527 women (1,013 African American and 514 Hispanic) enrolled in the study. Median age was 35 years (range, 18-59), 33% were married or living as married, 50% had an annual household income of $12,000 or less, and 56% were employed full or part time. Two women (0.13%) tested positive for HIV. In the past 12 months, 19% had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (other than HIV), 87% engaged in unprotected vaginal intercourse (UVI), and 26% engaged in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). In multivariate analysis, UAI was significantly (p < .05) more likely among those who reported ever being pregnant, binge drinking in the past 30 days, ever exchanging sex for things needed or wanted, engaging in UVI, or being of Hispanic ethnicity. UAI was also more likely to occur with partners with whom women had a current or past relationship as opposed to casual partners. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of our sample of heterosexually active women of color had recently engaged in sexual risk behaviors, particularly UAI. More research is needed to elucidate the interpersonal dynamics that may promote this high-risk behavior. Educational messages that explicitly address the risks of heterosexual anal intercourse need to be developed for heterosexually active women and their male partners.

Interactive voice response self-monitoring to assess risk behaviors in rural substance users living with HIV/AIDS.

Community-dwelling HIV/AIDS patients in rural Alabama self-monitored (SM) daily HIV risk behaviors using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, which may enhance reporting, reduce monitored behaviors, and extend the reach of care. Sexually active substance users (35 men, 19 women) engaged in IVR SM of sex, substance use, and surrounding contexts for 4-10 weeks. Baseline predictors of IVR utilization were assessed, and longitudinal IVR SM effects on risk behaviors were examined. Frequent (n = 22), infrequent (n = 22), and non-caller (n = 10) groups were analyzed. Non-callers had shorter durations of HIV medical care and lower safer sex self-efficacy and tended to be older heterosexuals. Among callers, frequent callers had lost less social support. Longitudinal logistic regression models indicated reductions in risky sex and drug use with IVR SM over time. IVR systems appear to have utility for risk assessment and reduction for rural populations living with HIV disease.

Agreement between prospective interactive voice response telephone reporting and structured recall reports of risk behaviors in rural substance users living with HIV/AIDS.

Sound measurement of risk behaviors is essential to guide tailored risk reduction strategies as HIV infection patterns shift toward rural minorities, particularly in the southeastern United States where HIV disease remains highly stigmatized. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems appear to enhance reports of sensitive behaviors and can support telehealth applications to extend the reach of care in rural, underserved areas. This study evaluated the feasibility and data quality of an IVR telephone reporting system with rural substance users living with HIV/AIDS. Community-dwelling patients were recruited from a nonprofit HIV medical clinic in rural Alabama (N = 35 men, 19 women). Participants engaged in daily IVR reporting of substance use and sexual practices for up to 10 weeks. IVR reports were compared with retrospective Timeline Followback (TLFB) interview reports for the same period. IVR and TLFB reports showed good to excellent agreement for summary measures of alcohol consumption and sexual activity. Agreements for illicit drug use reports were less satisfactory. Reports of monetary spending on alcohol and drugs were significantly higher on the IVR. Most individuals showed good agreements for reports of day-to-day alcohol and drug use and sexual practices. The study established the utility of IVR assessment with rural, disadvantaged adults living with HIV/AIDS who are priority targets for risk reduction interventions.

The recovery spectrum: from self-change to seeking treatment.

Recent innovations in alcohol-focused interventions are aimed at closing the gap between population need and the currently uncommon use of alcohol treatment services. Guided by population data showing the heterogeneity of alcohol problems and the occurrence of natural remissions from problem drinking without treatment, alcohol services have begun to expand beyond clinical treatment to offer the untreated majority of individuals with alcohol-related problems accessible, less-intensive services that use the tools of public health practice. These services often are opportunistic, meaning they can be provided in primary-care or other unspecialized health care or community settings. They also can be delivered by nonspecialists, or can be used by people themselves to address problems with alcohol without entering the health care system. This developing spectrum of services includes screening and brief interventions, guided self-change programs, and telehealth options that often are targeted and tailored for high-risk groups (e.g., college drinkers). Other efforts aimed at reducing barriers to care and increasing motivation to seek help have utilized individual, organizational, and public health strategies. Together, these efforts have potential for helping the treatment field reach people who have realized that they have a drinking problem but have not yet experienced the severe negative consequences that may eventually drive them to seek treatment. Although the evidence supporting several innovations in alcohol services is preliminary, some approaches are well established, and collectively they form an emerging continuum of care for alcohol problems aimed at increasing service availability and improving overall impact on population health.

Structural factors and best practices in implementing a linkage to HIV care program using the ARTAS model.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of linkage to HIV care programs in the U.S. is poorly described in the literature despite the central role of these programs in delivering clients from HIV testing facilities to clinical care sites. Models demonstrating success in linking clients to HIV care from testing locations that do not have co-located medical care are especially needed. METHODS: Data from the Antiretroviral Treatment Access Studies-II project ('ARTAS-II') as well as site visit and project director reports were used to describe structural factors and best practices found in successful linkage to care programs. Successful programs were able to identify recently diagnosed HIV-positive persons and ensure that a high percentage of persons attended an initial HIV primary care provider visit within six months of enrolling in the linkage program. RESULTS: Eight categories of best practices are described, supplemented by examples from 5 of 10 ARTAS-II sites. These five sites highlighted in the best practices enrolled a total of 352 HIV+ clients and averaged 85% linked to care after six months. The other five grantees enrolled 274 clients and averaged 72% linked to care after six months. Sites with co-located HIV primary medical care services had higher linkage to care rates than non-co-located sites (87% vs. 73%). Five grantees continued linkage to care activities in some capacity after project funding ended. CONCLUSIONS: With the push to expand HIV testing in all U.S. communities, implementation and evaluation of linkage to care programs is needed to maximize the benefits of expanded HIV testing efforts.