Use of an mHealth Intervention to Improve Engagement in HIV Community-Based Care Among Persons Recently Released from a Correctional Facility in Washington, DC: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: We examined the preliminary effectiveness of a computerized counseling session plus post-incarceration text messaging intervention (CARE+ Corrections) to support ART adherence and linkage/engagement in community care among recently incarcerated HIV-infected persons in Washington, DC. Methods:Recently incarcerated HIV-infected persons ≥18 years old were recruited from the DC jail or community outreach and randomized to CARE+ Corrections or control arm. Participants completed assessments at baseline, three-months and six-months. Multivariable random effects modeling identified predictors of suppressed viral load (≤200 copies/mL) and engagement in HIV care at six months.Results: Participants (N=110) were aged 42 (IQR: 30-49); 58% male, 24% female, 18% transgender, 85% Black, and incarcerated for a median of 7 years (IQR: 2-15). More controls had

Interventions Designed to Improve HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes for Persons with HIV in Contact with the Carceral System in the USA

“…This study lends further evidence that HIV treatment is an on-going challenge for PWA involved in the carceral system. Similar to other studies [ 62 ], participation in the research, regardless of intervention arm, increased HIV care outcomes (i.e., participants were 5.6 times more likely to receive HIV care, 5.8 times more likely to receive ART prescription, and 4 times more likely to report medication adherence at each follow-up). These results suggest participants’ on-going contact with research staff (e.g., appointment reminders) may support care engagement.…”

“…Intervention participants experienced high rates of linkage (74.3%); however, no statistically significant between-group differences were observed (AOR = 1.2; 95% CI 0.6–2.3, p > 0.05). The second pilot study examined the effectiveness of the CARE + Corrections intervention to support ART adherence and RIC for recently incarcerated PWH [ 62 ]. This intervention included a computerized counseling session assessing HIV risk and care behaviors, provided a risk reduction plan for LTC or ART adherence, and incorporated supportive text messages (e.g., behavioral messaging, medication, and appointment reminders).…”

HIV Drug Resistance and Transmission Networks Among a Justice-Involved Population at the Time of Community Reentry in Washington, D.C.

“…In our CARE+ Corrections study, the mobile health intervention had a positive but nonsignificant association with viral suppression at 6 months, and care engagement increased in both the intervention and control groups. 37 The SUCCESS trial, a strength-based case management intervention involving face-to-face sessions begun in jail and continuing postrelease, increased retention in care 38 ; and the LINK LA trial, a peer navigation intervention that improved viral suppression at 12 months postrelease compared to traditional case management. 39 In contrast, an intensive case management intervention in North Carolina among HIV-infected prisoners showed no improvement in retention in care over traditional prerelease discharge planning, 40 demonstrating the need for further study of interventions to improve treatment outcomes during this vulnerable period.…”

Feasibility of a mHealth survey application for incarcerated and postrelease people living with HIV in a low‐resource setting

“…In addition, some platforms for non mhealth‐type digital data collection require users to have access to some difficult to use and expensive equipment and a set of core technical competencies to use said equipment. Nevertheless, newer information and communication technologies like the one used in this study are already being used in prison populations and also as an innovative approach to link individuals to care and improve HIV suppression after prison release in the United States (Kuo et al, 2019; Kurth et al, 2013). Compared with some computerized self‐administered questionnaires, using mHealth for data collection leverages the ubiquity of mobile devices and eases data collection and data transfer.…”