More than just Reminders: Using text Messaging to Improve HIV care Outcomes Among Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV.

This study evaluated engagement, satisfaction, and efficacy of an automated and live two-way text messaging intervention that linked youth and young adults at high risk for poor HIV outcomes to their medical case managers, with the aims of increasing viral load suppression rates and improving medical visit attendance. Participants (N = 100) were an average age of 22-23 years old. Most were Black (93%) and men who have sex with men (82%). A total of 89,681 automated text messages were sent to participants; and 62% of participants engaged in monthly text-message exchanges with medical case managers. McNemar's test results indicated that a significantly greater proportion of intervention participants were virally suppressed at 6 and 12 month follow-up than at enrollment. Adjusted odds ratio results showed a significant association between likelihood of achieving viral suppression at 6 and 12 months, and a greater number of participant responses to automated text messages. Future research should prospectively compare outcomes between usual care case management and usual care plus text-messaging to test for significant differences between groups.

RESUMEN: La presente investigación evaluó el compromiso, la satisfacción y la eficacia de una intervención de mensajes de texto bidireccional automatizada y en vivo que vinculó a jóvenes y adultos jóvenes con altos riesgos de resultados deficientes del VIH con sus administradores de casos médicos, con el objetivo de aumentar las tasas de supresión de la carga viral y mejorar la asistencia a las visitas médicas. Los participantes (n = 100) tenían una edad promedio de 22 a 23 años. La mayoría eran negros (93,0%) y hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (82,0%). Un total de 89.681 mensajes de texto automatizados fueron enviados a los participantes; y 62,0% de los participantes participaron en intercambios de mensajes de texto mensuales con los administradores de casos médicos. Los resultados de la prueba de McNemar indicaron que una proporción significativamente mayor de participantes de la intervención fueron suprimidos viralmente a los 6 y 12 meses de seguimiento que al momento de la inscripción. Los resultados del índice de probabilidad ajustado mostraron una asociación significativa entre la probabilidad de lograr la supresión viral a los 6 y 12 meses, así como un mayor número de respuestas de los participantes a los mensajes de texto automatizados. Las investigaciones futuras deben comparar prospectivamente los resultados entre la gestión de casos de atención habitual y la atención habitual más mensajes de texto para evaluar las diferencias significativas entre los grupos.

E-VOLUTION: A Text Messaging-Powered Intervention-Connection, Support, and HIV Eradication.

This longitudinal, nonexperimental, quantitative study examined the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of a texting intervention that was added to medical case management for youth and young adults at high risk for poor HIV outcomes. The intervention, E-VOLUTION, sent automated text messages to youth participants living with HIV that reminded them to take prescribed medication and attend medical visits. Automated texts also asked clients about mood, housing, and ability to pay bills. Client responses to automated texts that indicated challenges triggered alerts for their medical case manager, who then followed up to address the issue. Participants (N = 100) were an average age between 22 and 23 years and most were Black (95%) and men who have sex with men (82%). Over a period of 26 months 89,681 automated texts were sent, resulting in 450 alerts. Additionally, clients and medical case managers exchanged more than 17,000 texts. Results of Spearman correlations indicated significant associations between greater frequency of alerts triggered and greater likelihood of kept medical appointments (p < .05). Findings also showed significant associations between greater frequency of texting with a medical case manager and greater likelihood of viral load suppression and kept medical visits at 12-month follow-up (p < .01). More frequent substance use was associated with more alerts triggered (p < .01). Use of text messaging was acceptable to the participants and is a culturally responsive way to engage youth participants living with HIV in care. Future research may examine the use of structured behavioral health assessments in the automated texting framework, as well as compare outcomes between automated and two-way texting groups.

Prognostic factors for long-term outcome in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Known protective factors for long-term outcome in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are early diagnosis and a stable, non-violent supportive environment. Which factors contribute to the stability of care is not yet known. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate whether the age at diagnosis and the complexity of brain dysfunction play a role for placement changes in children with FASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted among caregivers and professionals caring for children with FASD and seeking help at the German FASD Competence Centre Bavaria (N = 232). The survey collected information about diagnosis, brain dysfunctions, behavioural factors influencing everyday life and changes of placement. The association of timing of diagnosis, brain dysfunctions and neurobehavioral impairment with changes of placement (<2 vs. 2 or more changes) was evaluated via logistic regression models. RESULTS: About 50% of the children received their diagnosis of FASD after the age of 5 years. The complexity of brain dysfunctions in children with FASD affecting everyday life was high. 15% of the children experienced four or more changes of placement. Children with more neuropsychological impairments experienced more changes of placement (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.36-4.71). CONCLUSIONS: Even though our results need to be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations such as the use of a convenience sample and limited statistical power, they imply that severely affected children with FASD experience a less stable environment. These children may therefore be at high risk for a negative prognosis. To warrant a better prognosis for the affected children, professionals urgently need to pay attention to early recognition and the complexity of neuropsychological impairments in children with FASD as well as to the support that caregivers urgently need.

Help Is Available: Supporting Mental Wellness Through Peer Health Navigation with Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men with HIV.

Young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) with HIV experience disproportionate rates of trauma, incarceration, poverty, racial discrimination, and homophobia. The synergistic effects of these adverse experiences, along with increased rates of mental health disorders, increase their risk for poor health. To address this need, the study authors adapted a current HIV service model to include a peer-health navigation intervention (WITH U) to attend to behavioral health, health literacy, linkage to services, and psychosocial support for YBMSM with HIV. This longitudinal, mixed-methods, nonexperimental study reports on the mental health burden among participants and the association between participation in WITH U and mental wellness outcomes. Participants (N = 65) were an average age of 25-26 years (mean = 25.48, standard deviation = 2.51). Over 25% of participants reported clinically significant depression and/or anxiety symptoms and nearly half the participants reported experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms that were at least moderately difficult to handle. Quantitative analyses indicated no significant positive association between intervention engagement and mental health symptoms; however, reporting a greater number of depression symptoms was associated with attending fewer intervention sessions. Qualitative data analysis revealed that participants' mental wellness was positively impacted by participating in the intervention and that participants preferred to receive mental wellness support from peer health navigators (HNs) rather than licensed mental health professionals. Yet, peer HNs did not feel adequately prepared to address participants' mental wellness concerns. Increased training for peer HNs and development of a linkage process to more formalized mental health services with community input may strengthen mental wellness support.

Assessing the needs of caregivers of children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Results from a survey among families and professionals in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Caring for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) puts a substantial and often life-long burden on affected families. Caregivers' specific needs and demands are, however, not well understood so far. We thus aimed at systematically collecting data on the needs of individuals caring for children and adolescents with FASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2019 and November 2020, a quantitative survey among caregivers and professionals from across Germany was performed. Participants completed a questionnaire collecting information on the perceived support caregivers receive from various sources as well as the current fulfilment of caregivers' needs. Specifically, the fulfilment of a variety of specific needs summarised in five categories was rated by the participants on a scale ranging from 1 (very good) to 6 (insufficient). RESULTS: Both caregivers and professionals rated the overall fulfilment of needs rather poorly (mean: 3.94 and 4.27, respectively). Caregivers indicated needs concerning coordination of support (4.74) and relief services (4.44) to be fulfilled the least while needs in the relief services category also received the lowest average grade among professionals (4.57). The needs that the caregivers regarded as most sufficiently fulfilled were their own knowledge about FASD (mean: 1.95) and their knowledge about the causes of their child's problems (mean: 1.87). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that FASD caregivers are supported insufficiently, while most of their needs remain unmet. Health care planners and providers thus urgently need to identify and implement measures to better address FASD caregivers' needs and demands.