Testing the Testers: Are Young Men Who Have Sex With Men Receiving Adequate HIV Testing and Counseling Services?

Background: The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promote HIV testing every 6 months among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) to facilitate entry into the HIV prevention and care continuum. Willingness to be tested may be influenced by testing services' quality. Using a novel mystery shopper methodology, we assessed YMSM's testing experiences in 3 cities and recommend service delivery improvements.

Interaction Effects of Neighborhood Disadvantage and Individual Social Support on Frequency of Alcohol Use in Youth Living with HIV.

Youth living with HIV (YLH) experience multiple disease-related stresses along with the same structural and developmental challenges faced by their uninfected peers; alcohol use among YLH represents a risk behavior by virtue of potential effects on youth health and increased likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex while drinking alcohol. Research aimed at better understanding the interplay of individual- and neighborhood-level influences on alcohol use for YLH is needed to inform interventions. This study examined whether socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) and social support influence, independently and through interaction, alcohol use in YLH.

HIV Continuum of Care for Youth in the United States.

Background: Beneficial HIV treatment outcomes require success at multiple steps along the HIV Continuum of Care. Youth living with HIV are a key population, and sites in the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) are known for modeling optimum HIV adolescent care.

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study conducted at 14 network sites across the United States assessed how the later steps of the Continuum of Care were achieved among the youth: engagement, treatment, and viral load (VL) suppression.

Effective Treatment of Depressive Disorders in Medical Clinics for Adolescents and Young Adults Living With HIV: A Controlled Trial.

Objective: Preliminary test of a manualized, measurement-guided treatment for depression for adolescents and young adults in care at 4 sites of the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions.

Design: The US sites were randomly assigned to either a 24-week, combination cognitive behavioral therapy and medication management algorithm (COMB) tailored for youth living with HIV (YLWH) or to treatment as usual (TAU).

Methods: Youth at TAU sites had access to therapists and medication management as needed.

The initial feasibility of a computer-based motivational intervention for adherence for youth newly recommended to start antiretroviral treatment.

Young people represent the largest number of new HIV infections, thus youth living with HIV (YLH) are likely to be the largest group to initiate antiretroviral treatment (ART). Adherence patterns for behaviorally infected YLH are not adequate to effectively manage the disease; therefore, novel interventions are needed to improve medication adherence. The purpose of the current study, which will precede a randomized controlled trial, was to assess the initial feasibility of an individually tailored computer-based two-session interactive motivational interviewing (MI) intervention for YLH newly recommended to start ART.

Motivational Enhancement System for Adherence (MESA): pilot randomized trial of a brief computer-delivered prevention intervention for youth initiating antiretroviral treatment.

Objective: To pilot test a two-session computer-delivered motivational intervention to facilitate adherence among youth with HIV newly prescribed antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Methods: Youth (N = 76) newly prescribed ART were recruited from 8 sites, and were randomized to the intervention or an active nutrition and physical activity control. Primary outcomes were HIV-1 viral load at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, and self-reported adherence at 3 and 6 months.

Depression and stigma in high-risk youth living with HIV: a multi-site study.

Introduction: This study explored the relationship between depression, stigma, and risk behaviors in a multi-site study of high-risk youth living with HIV (YLH) in the United States.

Methods: All youth met screening criteria for either problem level substance use, current sexual risk, and/or suboptimal HIV medication adherence. Problem level substance use behavior was assessed with the CRAFFT, a six-item adolescent screener.

Multiple risk behaviors among youth living with human immunodeficiency virus in five U.S. cities.

Purpose: To describe multiple risk behaviors (substance use, sexual risk, and medication adherence) in a multi-site sample of youth living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in five U.S. cites.

Transition to adult services among behaviorally infected adolescents with HIV--a qualitative study.

Objectives: The present study aimed to describe the experiences of youth with behaviorally acquired HIV who transitioned to adult care, to identify difficulties encountered, and to explore areas for improvement.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 young adults ranging from 24 to 29 years old. Themes were derived from coding participant interviews.

Posttraumatic stress and trauma history in adolescents and young adults with HIV.

This study examined trauma history and posttraumatic stress in a sample of 30 adolescents and young adults with HIV/AIDS, recruited from December 14, 2004 through May 3, 2005. Overall, participants reported a mean of 5.63 traumatic events, with 93% of the sample reporting that receiving a diagnosis of HIV was experienced as traumatic.

Recruitment and retention of adolescent participants in HIV research: findings from the REACH (Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health) Project.

Purpose: To evaluate the importance of 13 items in the recruitment and retention of HIV-positive and HIV-negative adolescent participants in a longitudinal study (REACH study).

Methods: A confidential, self-administered, visual analog, cross-sectional survey was offered to active participants (November 1999-August 2000) with 438 subjects (86%) participating. Sixty-six percent of the cohort were HIV-positive and 34% were HIV-negative with a mean age of 17 years, and 76% were female.