Quality of HIV Care and Mortality Rates in HIV-Infected Patients.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act encourages healthcare systems to track quality-of-care measures; little is known about their impact on mortality rates. The objective of this study was to assess associations between HIV quality of care and mortality rates. METHODS: A longitudinal survival analysis of the Veterans Aging Cohort Study included 3038 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients enrolled between June 2002 and July 2008. The independent variable was receipt of ≥80% of 9 HIV quality indicators (QIs) abstracted from medical records in the 12 months after enrollment. Overall mortality rates through 2014 were assessed from the Veterans Health Administration, Medicare, and Social Security National Death Index records. We assessed associations between receiving ≥80% of HIV QIs and mortality rates using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Results were stratified by unhealthy alcohol and illicit drug use. RESULTS: The majority of participants were male (97.5%) and black (66.8%), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 49.0 (8.8) years. Overall, 25.9% reported past-year unhealthy alcohol use and 28.4% reported past-year illicit drug use. During 24 805 person-years of follow-up (mean [standard deviation], 8.2 [3.3] years), those who received ≥80% of QIs experienced lower age-adjusted mortality rates (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, .65-.86). Adjustment for disease severity attenuated the association. CONCLUSIONS: Receipt of ≥80% of select HIV QIs is associated with improved survival in a sample of predominantly male, black, HIV-infected patients but was insufficient to overcome adjustment for disease severity. Interventions to ensure high-quality care and address underlying chronic illness may improve survival in HIV-infected patients.

Developing the Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus consensus measures for assessment of supervised psilocybin services: An e-Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Voter initiatives in Oregon and Colorado authorize legal frameworks for supervised psilocybin services, but no measures monitor safety or outcomes. AIMS: To develop core measures of best practices. METHODS: A three-phase e-Delphi process recruited 36 experts with 5 or more years' experience facilitating psilocybin experiences in various contexts (e.g., ceremonial settings, indigenous practices, clinical trials), or other pertinent psilocybin expertise. Phase I, an on-line survey with qualitative, open-ended text responses, generated potential measures to assess processes, outcomes, and structure reflecting high quality psilocybin services. In Phase II, experts used seven-point Likert scales to rate the importance and feasibility of the Phase I measures. Measures were priority ranked. Qualitative interviews and analysis in Phase III refined top-rated measures. RESULTS: Experts (n = 36; 53% female; 71% white; 56% heterosexual) reported currently providing psilocybin services (64%) for a mean of 15.2 [SD 13.1] years, experience with indigenous psychedelic practices (67%), and/or conducting clinical trials (36%). Thematic analysis of Phase I responses yielded 55 candidate process measures (e.g., preparatory hours with client, total dose of psilocybin administered, documentation of touch/sexual boundaries), outcome measures (e.g., adverse events, well-being, anxiety/depression symptoms), and structure measures (e.g., facilitator training in trauma informed care, referral capacity for medical/psychiatric issues). In Phase II and III, experts prioritized a core set of 11 process, 11 outcome, and 17 structure measures that balanced importance and feasibility. CONCLUSION: Service providers and policy makers should consider standardizing core measures developed in this study to monitor the safety, quality, and outcomes of community-based psilocybin services.

The impact of depressive symptoms on patient-provider communication in HIV care.

Persons with HIV who develop depression have worse medical adherence and outcomes. Poor patient-provider communication may play a role in these outcomes. This cross-sectional study evaluated the influence of patient depression on the quality of patient-provider communication. Patient-provider visits (n=406) at four HIV care sites were audio-recorded and coded with the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Negative binomial and linear regressions using generalized estimating equations tested the association of depressive symptoms, as measured by the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression scale (CES-D), with RIAS measures and postvisit patient-rated quality of care and provider-reported regard for his or her patient. The patients, averaged 45 years of age (range =20-77), were predominately male (n=286, 68.5%), of black race (n=250, 60%), and on antiretroviral medications (n=334, 80%). Women had greater mean CES-D depression scores (12.0) than men (10.6; p=0.03). There were no age, race, or education differences in depression scores. Visits with patients reporting severe depressive symptoms compared to those reporting none/mild depressive symptoms were longer and speech speed was slower. Patients with severe depressive symptoms did more emotional rapport building but less social rapport building, and their providers did more data gathering/counseling (ps<0.05). In postvisit questionnaires, providers reported lower levels of positive regard for, and rated more negatively patients reporting more depressive symptoms (p<0.01). In turn, patients reporting more depressive symptoms felt less respected and were less likely to report that their provider knows them as a person than none/mild depressive symptoms patients (ps<0.05). Greater psychosocial needs of patients presenting with depressive symptoms and limited time/resources to address these needs may partially contribute to providers' negative attitudes regarding their patients with depressive symptoms. These negative attitudes may ultimately serve to adversely impact patient-provider communication and quality of HIV care.

A gender-based secondary analysis of the ADAPT-2 combination naltrexone and bupropion treatment for methamphetamine use disorder trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Socio-cultural (gender) and biological (sex)-based differences contribute to psychostimulant susceptibility, potentially affecting treatment responsiveness among women with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). The aims were to measure (i) how women with MUD independently and compared with men respond to treatment versus placebo and (ii) among women, how the hormonal method of contraception (HMC) affects treatment responsiveness. DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of ADAPT-2, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, two-stage sequential parallel comparison design trial. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: This study comprised 126 women (403 total participants); average age = 40.1 years (standard deviation = 9.6) with moderate to severe MUD. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions were combination intramuscular naltrexone (380 mg/3 weeks) and oral bupropion (450 mg daily) versus placebo. MEASUREMENTS: Treatment response was measured using a minimum of three of four negative methamphetamine urine drug tests during the last 2 weeks of each stage; treatment effect was the difference between weighted treatment responses of each stage. FINDINGS: At baseline, women used methamphetamine intravenously fewer days than men [15.4 versus 23.1% days, P = 0.050, difference = -7.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -15.0 to -0.3] and more women than men had anxiety (59.5 versus 47.6%, P = 0.027, difference = 11.9%, 95% CI = 1.5 to 22.3%). Of 113 (89.7%) women capable of pregnancy, 31 (27.4%) used HMC. In Stage 1 29% and Stage 2 5.6% of women on treatment had a response compared with 3.2% and 0% on placebo, respectively. A treatment effect was found independently for females and males (P < 0.001); with no between-gender treatment effect (0.144 females versus 0.100 males; P = 0.363, difference = 0.044, 95% CI = -0.050 to 0.137). Treatment effect did not differ by HMC use (0.156 HMC versus 0.128 none; P = 0.769, difference = 0.028, 95% CI -0.157 to 0.212). CONCLUSIONS: Women with methamphetamine use disorder receiving combined intramuscular naltrexone and oral bupropion treatment achieve greater treatment response than placebo. Treatment effect does not differ by HMC.

The Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Overdose Concerns of People Who Use Drugs in Rural Communities.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health, substance use, and overdose concerns among people who use drugs (PWUDs) in rural communities to explore reasons for changes and ways to mitigate COVID-19 impact in the future. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with PWUDs in 5 rural Oregon counties with high overdose rates. Participants were identified through participant-driven sampling along with flyer and text advertising (n = 36). Research staff conducted audio-recorded in-depth interviews via telephone, assessing COVID-19 effects on substance use, mental health, and overdose risk. Transcribed interviewers were coded for themes using a semantic approach. RESULTS: Participants reported various mental health symptoms and experiences due to COVID-19, including increased feelings of boredom, loneliness, and depression; increased worry and stress; and increased suicidal ideation. Participants described varying impacts of COVID-19 on substance use. Overall, participants who used only methamphetamine reported decreased use and people who used only heroin or heroin with methamphetamine reported increased use. Most participants reported that they were not concerned about overdose and that COVID-19 did not impact their concerns about overdose, despite increases in risky use and suicidal ideations. CONCLUSIONS: As rural communities respond to the evolving impacts of COVID-19, there is increasing need to identify strategies to address PWUD's mental, physical, and social health needs during COVID-19.

Retention Strategies for Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Adults: A Rapid Evidence Review.

OBJECTIVES: Although medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) save lives, treatment retention remains challenging. Identification of interventions to improve MOUD retention is of interest to policymakers and researchers. On behalf of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, we conducted a rapid evidence review on interventions to improve MOUD retention. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library from February 2009 through August 2019 for systematic reviews and randomized trials of care settings, services, logistical support, contingency management, health information technology (IT), extended-release (XR) formulations, and psychosocial interventions that assessed retention at least 3 months. RESULTS: Two systematic reviews and 39 primary studies were included; most did not focus on retention as the primary outcome. Initiating MOUD in soon-to-be-released incarcerated people improved retention following release. Contingency management may improve retention using antagonist but not agonist MOUD. Retention with interventions integrating medical, psychiatric, social services, or IT did not differ from in-person treatment-as-usual approaches. Retention was comparable with XR- compared to daily buprenorphine formulations and conflicting with XR-naltrexone monthly injection compared to daily buprenorphine. Most psychosocial interventions did not improve retention. DISCUSSION: Consistent but sparse evidence supports criminal justice prerelease MOUD initiation, and contingency management interventions for antagonist MOUD. Integrating MOUD with medical, psychiatric, social services, delivering through IT, or administering via XR-MOUD formulations did not worsen retention. Fewer than half of the studies we identified focused on retention as a primary outcome. Studies used different measures of retention, making it difficult to compare effectiveness. Additional inquiry into the causes of low retention would inform future interventions.Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42019134739.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Case Detection Increased When Testing Increased in a Multisite US HIV Cohort, 2004-2014.

OBJECTIVES: Annual screening for gonorrhea [Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG)] and chlamydia [Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)] is recommended for all sexually active persons living with HIV but is poorly implemented. Studies demonstrating no increases in NG and/or CT (NG/CT) case detection in clinics that successfully expanded NG/CT screening raise questions about this broad screening approach. We evaluated NG/CT case detection in the HIV Research Network during 2004-2014, a period of expanding testing. METHODS: We analyzed linear time trends in annual testing (patients tested divided by all patients in care), test positivity (patients positive divided by all tested), and case detection (the number of patients with a positive result divided by all patients in care) using multivariate repeated measures logistic regression. We determined trends overall and stratified by men who have sex with men (MSM), men who have sex exclusively with women, and women. RESULTS: Among 15,614 patients (50% MSM, 26% men who have sex exclusively with women, and 24% women), annual NG/CT testing increased from 22% in 2004 to 60% in 2014 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) per year 1.22 (1.21-1.22)]. Despite the increase in testing, test positivity also increased [AOR per year 1.10 (1.07-1.12)], and overall case detection increased from 0.8% in 2004 to 3.9% in 2014 [AOR per year 1.20 (1.17-1.22)]. Case detection was highest among MSM but increased over time among all 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: NG/CT case detection increased as testing expanded in the population. This supports a broad approach to NG/CT screening among persons living with HIV to decrease transmission and complications of NG/CT and of HIV.

A mixed methods study of patient-provider communication about opioid analgesics.

OBJECTIVE: To describe patient-provider communication about opioid pain medicine and explore how these discussions affect provider attitudes toward patients. METHODS: We audio-recorded 45 HIV providers and 423 patients in routine outpatient encounters at four sites across the country. Providers completed post-visit questionnaires assessing their attitudes toward patients. We identified discussions about opioid pain management and analyzed them qualitatively. We used logistic regression to assess the association between opioid discussion and providers' attitudes toward patients. RESULTS: 48 encounters (11% of the total sample) contained substantive discussion of opioid-related pain management. Most conversations were initiated by patients (n=28, 58%) and ended by the providers (n=36, 75%). Twelve encounters (25%) contained dialog suggesting a difference of opinion or conflict. Providers more often agreed than disagreed to give the prescription (50% vs. 23%), sometimes reluctantly; in 27% (n=13) of encounters, no decision was made. Fewer than half of providers (n=20, 42%) acknowledged the patient's experience of pain. Providers had a lower odds of positive regard for the patient (adjusted OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.27-0.95) when opioids were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Pain management discussions are common in routine outpatient HIV encounters and providers may regard patients less favorably if opioids are discussed during visits. The sometimes-adversarial nature of these discussions may negatively affect provider attitudes toward patients. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Empathy and pain acknowledgment are tools that clinicians can use to facilitate productive discussions of pain management.

Brief Report: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Testing Increasing but Still Lagging in HIV Clinics in the United States.

Screening persons living with HIV for gonorrhea and chlamydia has been recommended since 2003. We compared annual gonorrhea/chlamydia testing to syphilis and lipid testing among 19,368 adults (41% men who have sex with men, 30% heterosexual men, and 29% women) engaged in HIV care. In 2004, 22%, 62%, and 70% of all patients were tested for gonorrhea/chlamydia, syphilis, and lipid levels, respectively. Despite increasing steadily [odds ratio per year (95% confidence interval): 1.14 (1.13 to 1.15)], gonorrhea/chlamydia testing in 2010 remained lower than syphilis and lipid testing (39%, 77%, 76%, respectively). Interventions to improve gonorrhea/chlamydia screening are needed. A more targeted screening approach may be warranted.

Motivational interviewing by HIV care providers is associated with patient intentions to reduce unsafe sexual behavior.

OBJECTIVE: Motivational interviewing (MI) can promote behavior change, but HIV care providers rarely have training in MI. Little is known about the use of MI-consistent behavior among untrained providers. This study examines the prevalence of such behaviors and their association with patient intentions to reduce high-risk sexual behavior. METHODS: Audio-recorded visits between HIV-infected patients and their healthcare providers were searched for counseling dialog regarding sexual behavior. The association of providers' MI-consistence with patients' statements about behavior change was assessed. RESULTS: Of 417 total encounters, 27 met inclusion criteria. The odds of patient commitment to change were higher when providers used more reflections (p=0.017), used more MI consistent utterances (p=0.044), demonstrated more empathy (p=0.049), and spent more time discussing sexual behavior (p=0.023). Patients gave more statements in favor of change (change talk) when providers used more reflections (p<0.001) and more empathy (p<0.001), even after adjusting for length of relevant dialog. CONCLUSION: Untrained HIV providers do not consistently use MI techniques when counseling patients about sexual risk reduction. However, when they do, their patients are more likely to express intentions to reduce sexual risk behavior. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: MI holds promise as one strategy to reduce transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

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.

Substance abuse treatment in human immunodeficiency virus: the role of patient-provider discussions.

Substance abuse treatment is associated with decreases in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behavior and can improve HIV outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with substance abuse treatment utilization, including patient-provider discussions of substance use issues. We surveyed 951 HIV-infected adults receiving care at 14 HIV Research Network primary care sites regarding drug and alcohol use, substance abuse treatment, and provider discussions of substance use issues. Although 71% reported substance use, only 24% reported receiving substance abuse treatment and less than half reported discussing substance use issues with their HIV providers. In adjusted logistic regression models, receipt of substance abuse treatment was associated with patient-provider discussions. Patient-provider discussions of substance use issues were associated with current drug use, hazardous or binge drinking, and Black race or ethnicity, though substance use was comparable between Blacks and Whites. These data suggest potential opportunities for improving engagement in substance abuse treatment services.