Linguistic and Cultural Adaptation of a Computer-Based Counseling Program (CARE+ Spanish) to Support HIV Treatment Adherence and Risk Reduction for People Living With HIV/AIDS: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease in the United States disproportionately affects minorities, including Latinos. Barriers including language are associated with lower antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence seen among Latinos, yet ART and interventions for clinic visit adherence are rarely developed or delivered in Spanish. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to adapt a computer-based counseling tool, demonstrated to reduce HIV-1 viral load and sexual risk transmission in a population of English-speaking adults, for use during routine clinical visits for an HIV-positive Spanish-speaking population (CARE+ Spanish); the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was the theoretical framework guiding program development. METHODS: A longitudinal randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 4, 2010 to March 29, 2012. Participants were recruited from a comprehensive HIV treatment center comprising three clinics in New York City. Eligibility criteria were (1) adults (age ≥18 years), (2) Latino birth or ancestry, (3) speaks Spanish (mono- or multilingual), and (4) on antiretrovirals. Linear and generalized mixed linear effects models were used to analyze primary outcomes, which included ART adherence, sexual transmission risk behaviors, and HIV-1 viral loads. Exit interviews were offered to purposively selected intervention participants to explore cultural acceptability of the tool among participants, and focus groups explored the acceptability and system efficiency issues among clinic providers, using the TAM framework. RESULTS: A total of 494 Spanish-speaking HIV clinic attendees were enrolled and randomly assigned to the intervention (arm A: n=253) or risk assessment-only control (arm B, n=241) group and followed up at 3-month intervals for one year. Gender distribution was 296 (68.4%) male, 110 (25.4%) female, and 10 (2.3%) transgender. By study end, 433 of 494 (87.7%) participants were retained. Although intervention participants had reduced viral loads, increased ART adherence and decreased sexual transmission risk behaviors over time, these findings were not statistically significant. We also conducted 61 qualitative exit interviews with participants and two focus groups with a total of 16 providers. CONCLUSIONS: A computer-based counseling tool grounded in the TAM theoretical model and delivered in Spanish was acceptable and feasible to implement in a high-volume HIV clinic setting. It was able to provide evidence-based, linguistically appropriate ART adherence support without requiring additional staff time, bilingual status, or translation services. We found that language preferences and cultural acceptability of a computer-based counseling tool exist on a continuum in our urban Spanish-speaking population. Theoretical frameworks of technology's usefulness for behavioral modification need further exploration in other languages and cultures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01013935; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01013935 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ikaD3MT7).

Increased rates of rapid point-of-care HIV testing using patient care technicians to perform tests in the ED.

BACKGROUND: Various emergency department (ED) HIV testing models are reported in the literature but may not all be sustainable. We sought to determine whether changing an ED rapid HIV testing program from counselor-based to ED technician-based resulted in more testing. METHODS: We evaluated data from an ED rapid HIV testing program. Triage nurses offered testing to patients. In 2009, counselors performed rapid testing weekdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. In 2010, ED technicians were trained to perform the test and replaced counselors. We compared the numbers of tests performed during the same 6-month periods in 2009 and 2010. Study personnel abstracted results through medical record review. RESULTS: A total of 241 oral tests were performed in 2009 compared with 1483 in 2010, representing slightly more than a 6-fold increase. In 2010, there was a steady increase in testing month by month. Incorporating patient volume, testing rates increased from 1.3% to 8.1%. Oral testing yielded no positive test results in 2009, but 7 individuals (0.47%) tested newly positive during the testing period of 2010. Of those with a documented CD4 count within 100 days of the positive result, 4 of 5 had CD4 counts less than 200. CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel approach to HIV testing using existing staff within the ED. This new ED technician-based model led to large increases in rates of testing.

Patient activation and improved outcomes in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) assesses several important concepts in chronic care management, including self-efficacy for positive health behaviors. In HIV-infected populations, better self-efficacy for medication management is associated with improved adherence to antiretroviral medications (ARVs), which is critically important for controlling symptoms and slowing disease progression. OBJECTIVE: To determine 1) characteristics associated with patient activation and 2) associations between patient activation and outcomes in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: 433 patients receiving care in four HIV clinics. METHODS: An interviewer conducted face-to-face interviews with patients following their HIV clinic visit. Survey data were supplemented with medical record abstraction to obtain most recent CD4 counts, HIV viral load and antiretroviral medications. MAIN MEASURES: Patient activation was measured using the 13-item PAM (possible range 0-100). Outcomes included CD4 cell count > 200 cells/mL(3), HIV-1 RNA < 400 copies/mL (viral suppression), and patient-reported adherence. KEY RESULTS: Overall, patient activation was high (mean PAM = 72.3 [SD 16.5, range 34.7-100]). Activation was lower among those without vs. with a high school degree (68.0 vs. 74.0, p < .001), and greater depression (77.6 lowest, 70.2 middle, 68.1 highest tertile, p < .001). There was no association between patient activation and age, race, gender, problematic alcohol use, illicit drug use, or social status. In multivariable models, every 5-point increase in PAM was associated with greater odds of CD4 count > 200 cells/mL(3) (aOR 1.10 [95 % CI 1.01, 1.21]), adherence (aOR 1.18 [95 % CI 1.09, 1.29]) and viral suppression (aOR 1.08 [95 % CI 1.00, 1.17]). The association between PAM and viral suppression was mediated through adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Higher patient activation was associated with more favorable HIV outcomes. Interventions to improve patient activation should be developed and tested for their ability to improve HIV outcomes.

Primary care provider cultural competence and racial disparities in HIV care and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Health professional organizations have advocated for increasing the "cultural competence" (CC) of healthcare providers, to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in patient care. It is unclear whether provider CC is associated with more equitable care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether provider CC is associated with quality of care and outcomes for patients with HIV/AIDS. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Survey of 45 providers and 437 patients at four urban HIV clinics in the U.S. MAIN MEASURES: Providers' self-rated CC was measured using a novel, 20-item instrument. Outcome measures included patients' receipt of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, self-efficacy in managing medication regimens, complete 3-day ARV adherence, and viral suppression. KEY RESULTS: Providers' mean age was 44 years; 56 % were women, and 64 % were white. Patients' mean age was 45; 67 % were men, and 77 % were nonwhite. Minority patients whose providers scored in the middle or highest third on self-rated CC were more likely than those with providers in the lowest third to be on ARVs, have high self-efficacy, and report complete ARV adherence. Racial disparities were observed in receipt of ARVs (adjusted OR, 95 % CI for white vs. nonwhite: 6.21, 1.50-25.7), self-efficacy (3.77, 1.24-11.4), and viral suppression (13.0, 3.43-49.0) among patients of low CC providers, but not among patients of moderate and high CC providers (receipt of ARVs: 0.71, 0.32-1.61; self-efficacy: 1.14, 0.59-2.22; viral suppression: 1.20, 0.60-2.42). CONCLUSIONS: Provider CC was associated with the quality and equity of HIV care. These findings suggest that enhancing provider CC may reduce racial disparities in healthcare quality and outcomes.

Alcohol use, anal sex, and other risky sexual behaviors among HIV-infected women and men.

Effective sexual risk reduction strategies for HIV-infected individuals require an understanding of alcohol's influence on specific sexual behaviors. We conducted audio-computer-assisted-self-interviews on 910 patients from two HIV primary care programs. The association between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors was examined using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, education, race/ethnicity and drug use. Frequent/binge drinking was associated with engaging in anal sex and having multiple sex partners among women, engaging in insertive anal sex among gay/bisexual men, and was unrelated to risky sexual behaviors among heterosexual men. Infrequent drinkers did not differ in sexual risk behaviors from abstainers among women or men. Finally, there was no interaction effect between race/ethnicity and alcohol use on the association with sexual risk behaviors. The study has yielded important new findings in several key areas with high relevance to HIV care. Results underscore the importance of routinely screening for alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors in HIV primary care.

Pneumoperitoneum Secondary to Necrotic Intra-abdominal Lymph Node.

Pneumoperitoneum is often treated as a surgical emergency as the most common etiology is perforated hollow viscus. Here, we present the case of a man in his 70s who presented to the emergency department with fever and abdominal pain. On physical exam, he was diffusely tender in the bilateral lower quadrants with guarding. Imaging demonstrated moderate volume pneumoperitoneum. On review of his imaging, the pneumoperitoneum was centered around a 7 cm necrotic lymph node. Repeat CT scan with positive oral (PO) and rectal contrast demonstrated no extraluminal contrast extravasation, but air bubbles were seen extending from the necrotic lymph node into the lower abdominal cavity. He underwent CT-guided drain placement and was started on antibiotics, and improved without surgical intervention. In stable patients presenting with pneumoperitoneum and known intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy, perforated viscus should be ruled out prior to surgical intervention, and necrotic intra-abdominal lymph node should be considered as a differential diagnosis.

Clinician stress and patient-clinician communication in HIV care.

BACKGROUND: Clinician stress is common, but few studies have examined its relationship with communication behaviors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between clinician stress and patient-clinician communication in primary HIV care. DESIGN: Observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three primary HIV clinicians and 350 HIV-infected adult, English-speaking patients at three U.S. HIV specialty clinic sites. MAIN MEASURES: Clinicians completed the Perceived Stress Scale, and we categorized scores in tertiles. Audio-recordings of patient-clinician encounters were coded using the Roter Interaction Analysis System. Patients rated the quality of their clinician's communication and overall quality of medical care. We used regression with generalized estimating equations to examine associations between clinician stress and communication outcomes, controlling for clinician gender, clinic site, and visit length. KEY RESULTS: Among the 33 clinicians, 70 % were physicians, 64 % were women, 67 % were non-Hispanic white, and the mean stress score was 3.9 (SD 2.4, range 0-8). Among the 350 patients, 34 % were women, 55 % were African American, 23 % were non-Hispanic white, 16 % were Hispanic, and 30 % had been with their clinicians >5 years. Verbal dominance was higher for moderate-stress clinicians (ratio=1.93, p<0.01) and high-stress clinicians (ratio=1.76, p=0.01), compared with low-stress clinicians (ratio 1.45). More medical information was offered by moderate-stress clinicians (145.5 statements, p <0.01) and high-stress clinicians (125.9 statements, p=0.02), compared with low-stress clinicians (97.8 statements). High-stress clinicians offered less psychosocial information (17.1 vs. 19.3, p=0.02), and patients of high-stress clinicians rated their quality of care as excellent less frequently than patients of low-stress clinicians (49.5 % vs. 66.9 %, p<0.01). However, moderate-stress clinicians offered more partnering statements (27.7 vs. 18.2, p=0.04) and positive affect (3.88 vs. 3.78 score, p=0.02) than low-stress clinicians, and their patients' ratings did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Although higher stress was associated with verbal dominance and lower patient ratings, moderate stress was associated with some positive communication behaviors. Prospective mixed methods studies should examine the complex relationships across the continuum of clinician well-being and health communication.

Substance use and the quality of patient-provider communication in HIV clinics.

The objective of this study was to estimate the influence of substance use on the quality of patient-provider communication during HIV clinic encounters. Patients were surveyed about unhealthy alcohol and illicit drug use and rated provider communication quality. Audio-recorded encounters were coded for specific communication behaviors. Patients with vs. without unhealthy alcohol use rated the quality of their provider's communication lower; illicit drug user ratings were comparable to non-users. Visit length was shorter, with fewer activating/engaging and psychosocial counseling statements for those with vs. without unhealthy alcohol use. Providers and patients exhibited favorable communication behaviors in encounters with illicit drug users vs. non-users, demonstrating greater evidence of patient-provider engagement. The quality of patient-provider communication was worse for HIV-infected patients with unhealthy alcohol use but similar or better for illicit drug users compared with non-users. Interventions should be developed that encourage providers to actively engage patients with unhealthy alcohol use.

After the embo: predicting non-hemorrhagic indications for splenectomy after angioembolization in patients with blunt trauma.

BACKGROUND: Successful non-operative management (NOM) of blunt splenic trauma is enhanced with splenic angioembolization (SAE). Patients may still require splenectomy post-SAE for splenic infarction/necrosis. Prior studies have used white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PLT), and PLT:WBC ratio after splenectomy to predict complications, but none have evaluated these findings prior to splenectomy in patients who have undergone SAE. Changes in these values may indicate clinically significant splenic infarction, facilitating management of these patients. METHODS: Patients admitted to an American College of Surgeons verified level 1 trauma center from January 2007 to August 2017 who underwent SAE were identified. Patients with successful NOM after SAE (SAE/NOM) were compared with those requiring splenectomy (SAE/SPLEN). Data included demographics, splenic injury grade, Injury Severity Score (ISS), time to SAE and splenectomy, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay (LOS), and complete blood count. Lab values were analyzed immediately post-SAE (time 1) and day 5 post-SAE (or day of discharge) for SAE/NOM patients and day of SPLEN for SAE/SPLEN patients (time 2). Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, χ2 tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with significance attributed to P<0.05. RESULTS: Of 124 patients undergoing SAE, 16 (13%) later required SPLEN for infarction/necrosis at a median of 5 days post-SAE (IQR: 3-10 days). SAE/SPLEN and SAE/NOM patients did not differ by age, gender, ISS, or grade of splenic injury. SAE/SPLEN patients had longer hospital LOS (23 vs. 10 days, P<0.001). WBC, PLT, and PLT:WBC ratio did not differ between the groups at time 1. At time 2, WBC was higher and PLT:WBC ratio was lower in SAE/SPLEN patients. Using ROC curves at time 2, the area under the curve was 0.90 (P<0.001) for WBC and 0.71 (P<0.007) for PLT:WBC ratio. DISCUSSION: Patients requiring splenectomy for clinically significant infarction/necrosis after SAE develop leukocytosis and decreased PLT:WBC ratio when compared with SAE/NOM patients. Monitoring these parameters allows more prompt diagnosis and operative intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, level III.

Falling through the cracks? Missed opportunities for earlier HIV diagnosis in a New York City Hospital.

Summary Newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients have frequent health care encounters prior to diagnosis representing missed opportunities for diagnosis. This study determines the proportion of patients with new HIV diagnoses with encounters in the 3 years prior to diagnosis. We describe the characteristics of newly diagnosed patients and of "late testers" (CD4 <200 cells/mm(3) at the time of diagnosis). We identified all newly diagnosed with HIV in emergency department, inpatient, and outpatient settings between May 1, 2006, and December 31, 2009. Data abstractors searched hospital records to identify all emergency department, inpatient, and outpatient visits for the 3 years prior to diagnosis. In all, 23,271 HIV tests were performed and 253 persons were newly diagnosed (1.1%); 152 new positives (60.1%) made at least one prior visit. Of patients with CD4 counts available, 104/175 (59.4%) had CD4 <200 cells/mm(3). Patients with at least one prior visit had a median of three. There was no difference in numbers of visits between late testers and non-late testers, although late testers were more likely to have ED visits. Most newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients had multiple encounters prior to diagnosis. Many of these patients presented with CD4 counts below 200 cells/mm(3), indicating true missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis.

Race, Relationships and Trust in Providers among Black Patients with HIV/AIDS.

A trustful patient-provider relationship is a strong predictor of positive outcomes, including treatment adherence and viral suppression, among patients with HIV/AIDS. Understanding factors that inform this relationship is especially relevant for Black patients, who bear a disproportionate burden of HIV morbidity and mortality, and may face challenges associated with seeing providers of a racial/ethnic background that is different from their own. Using data collected through the Enhancing Communication and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) study, we build upon extant research by examining patient and provider characteristics that may influence Black patients' trust in their provider. ECHO data were collected from four ambulatory care sites in Baltimore, Detroit, New York and Portland, Oregon (N=435). Regression analysis results indicate that trust in health care institutions and cultural similarity between patient and provider are strongly associated with patients' trust in their provider. Lower perceived social status, being currently employed, and having an older provider were also related to greater patient-provide trust. These findings can inform interventions to improve trust and reduce disparities in HIV care and outcomes that stem from mistrust among Black patients.

HIV providers' perceptions of and attitudes toward female versus male patients.

As a first step in understanding the role that health care providers may play in observed gender disparities in HIV care in the United States, we sought to examine whether HIV providers' perceptions of and attitudes toward female and male patients differ. We used data from the Enhancing Communication to Improve HIV Outcomes (ECHO) study, a multisite, cross-sectional study focused on the role of the patient-provider relationship in disparities in HIV care conducted from October 2006 to June 2007. Using separate scales, we assessed HIV providers' perceptions about their patients (e.g., intelligence, compliance, responsibility) as well as providers' attitudes toward their patients (e.g., like, respect, frustrate). We used multivariable linear regression with generalized estimating equations to compare provider scores for female and male patients. Our sample comprised 37 HIV providers and 317 patients. Compared with male patients, HIV-infected females were less likely to be highly educated or employed, and more likely to report nonadherence to antiretroviral medications and depressive symptoms. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was a significant difference in providers' perceptions of female and male patients, with providers having more negative perceptions of female patients. However, there was no significant difference in HIV providers' attitudes toward female and male patients in unadjusted or adjusted analyses. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of providers' perceptions and attitudes about female and male patients in observed gender disparities in HIV care.

Epstein-Barr virus myelitis and Castleman's disease in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Few cases of Epstein-Barr virus myelitis have been described in the literature. Multi-centric Castleman's disease is a lymphoproliferative disorder that is well known for its associations with the human immunodeficiency virus, human herpes virus 8, and Kaposi's sarcoma. The concurrent presentation of these two diseases in a patient at the same time is extremely unusual. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 43-year-old Caucasian man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome who presented with fever, weight loss and diffuse lymphadenopathy, and was diagnosed with multi-centric Castleman's disease. He presented three weeks later with lower extremity weakness and urinary retention, at which time cerebrospinal fluid contained lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated abnormal spinal cord signal intensity over several cervical and thoracic segments, suggesting the diagnosis of myelitis. Our patient was ultimately diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus myelitis, as Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of multi-centric Castleman's disease followed by acute Epstein-Barr virus myelitis in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient. Clinicians caring for human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients should be vigilant about monitoring patients with increasing lymphadenopathy, prompting thorough diagnostic investigations when necessary.

The role of cultural distance between patient and provider in explaining racial/ethnic disparities in HIV care.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate whether cultural distance between patients and providers was associated with quality of care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and whether cultural distance helped explain racial/ethnic disparities in HIV care. METHODS: We surveyed 437 patients and 45 providers at 4 HIV clinics in the U.S. We examined the association of patients' perceived cultural distance from their providers with patient ratings of healthcare quality, trust in provider, receipt of antiretroviral therapy, medication adherence, and viral suppression. We also examined whether racial/ethnic disparities in these aspects of HIV care were mediated by cultural distance. RESULTS: Greater cultural distance was associated with lower patient ratings of healthcare quality and less trust in providers. Compared to white patients, nonwhites had significantly lower levels of trust, adherence, and viral suppression. Adjusting for patient-provider cultural distance did not significantly affect any of these disparities (p-values for mediation >.10). CONCLUSION: Patient-provider cultural distance was negatively associated with perceived quality of care and trust but did not explain racial/ethnic disparities in HIV care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Bridging cultural differences may improve patient-provider relationships but may have limited impact in reducing racial/ethnic disparities, unless coupled with efforts to address other sources of unequal care.

Immunologic function and virologic suppression among children with perinatally acquired HIV Infection on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: The goal of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been to stabilize and reconstitute immune function and suppress viral replication to the greatest degree possible. Suppression of HIV viral replication has been associated with improved long-term and short-term prognosis. Limited data are available on the level of virologic suppression and immune function of pediatric patients followed in clinical settings in the HAART era. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the level of virologic suppression and immune function in a cohort of children with perinatally acquired HIV infection followed at dedicated HIV specialty care sites. RESEARCH DESIGN: This study comprised a cohort study of HIV-infected children and adolescents. SUBJECTS: Study subjects consisted of 263 HIV-positive children (25; only 4.2% had CD4 <15%. Overall, 12.5% of patients had either CD4% <15 or severely decreased absolute CD4 counts (adjusted for age). A total of 4.6% of patients had HIV-1 RNAs >100,000 cpm and severe immunosuppression. Patients who were less likely to achieve virologic suppression to <400 cpm included those with CD4 count <200 cells/mm(3) (odds ratio [OR], 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.007-0.46), those with AIDS (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.28-0.94), and those with moderate (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.79), or severe immunologic suppression (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.046-0.43) based on CD4%. CONCLUSION: In this multisite, pediatric cohort, the rate of near-complete virologic suppression (<50 or <400 cpm) was low. However, the majority of patients have near-normal CD4 counts and viral loads <15,000 cpm. Follow up will be critical to assess the implications of ongoing low-level viral replication with near-normal CD4 values.

Hospital and outpatient health services utilization among HIV-infected children in care 2000-2001.

BACKGROUND: The aging of the pediatric HIV cohort and advances in antiretroviral therapy for children may have resulted in recent changes in patterns of healthcare utilization. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to examine inpatient and outpatient HIV-related health service utilization in a multistate sample of HIV-infected children, and to assess sociodemographic and clinical correlates of utilization. DESIGN: Cohort study of pediatric patients with HIV. Demographic, clinical, and resource utilization data were collected from medical records for 2000 and 2001. SETTING: This study was conducted at 4 U.S. HIV primary pediatric and specialty care sites in different geographic regions. PATIENTS: Three hundred three HIV-positive children with at least one outpatient visit or CD4 test in either 2000 or 2001 were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean outcome measures were number of hospital admissions, mean length of hospital stay, and number of outpatient clinic/office visits. RESULTS: Hospitalization rates decreased significantly from 39.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.4-50.1) to 25.3 (95% CI, 16.4-34.3) admissions per 100 patients between 2000 and 2001. Hospitalizations were higher among patients with greater immunosuppression, those 2 years and under, and those with AIDS, but were not significantly related to receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Mean outpatient visits did not change significantly between 2000 and 2001 from 9.09 (95% CI, 8.3-9.9) to 9.06 (95% CI, 8.4-9.7) visits per child per year. Children 2 years and under, those on highly active antiretroviral therapy, those with AIDS, and those with Medicaid had significantly higher outpatient utilization. Those with higher HIV-1 RNA had higher outpatient utilization than those with less advanced disease. CONCLUSION: Inpatient utilization significantly decreased between 2000 and 2001, but outpatient utilization did not change over time. Compared with prior studies, utilization rates appear to be declining over time. Unlike adults, racial/ethnic or gender disparities in healthcare utilization are less pronounced for HIV-infected children.