LinkPositively+ An Enhanced Mobile Health App Delivered Intervention to Improve HIV Care Outcomes Among Black Women Affected by Mental Health and Violence
Guiding Right, Inc.
Summary
The investigative team will conduct a 2-arm randomized control trial to examine the preliminary effect of LinkPositively+ (LPP) an enhanced version of LinkPositively (LP) mobile app on improved HIV care outcomes including improved retention in HIV care, ART adherence, and viral suppression using hair sample analysis and passive electronic, medical record review, and secondarily, self-reported increased social support via activation of social support networks (i.e., assessed by utilization), self-efficacy, and utilization of ancillary support services at baseline, 3- and 6-month post enrollment. Black women living with HIV (WLHA) with a lifetime history of interpersonal violence, who have been linked to care but may have fallen out of care in the past year will be randomized 1:1 to either the LP arm or the LPP arm.
Description
In the US, Black WLHA are less likely to be engaged in care and adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART) than other racial groups. Black women account for 61% of diagnoses among all women; only 56% are retained in care and 49% are virally suppressed. HIV disparities are also observed in Oklahoma state, where Black women have HIV diagnosis rates that are 8 times higher than White women. Interpersonal violence; defined as physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse by a male intimate or non-intimate partner disproportionately affects Black women and is associated with poor outcomes along the HI…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: a) aged 18 years or older, b) cisgender or transgender woman, c) as Black or African American racial/ethnic identity, d) Living with HIV/AIDS, e) able to read, speak, and understand English, e) ever-experienced physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse by a current or former partner of non-partner, and f) owner of a smartphone with internet browsing capabilities. \- Exclusion Criteria: a) Unwillingness to participate in the study, b) cognitive impairment that would limit participation with study procedures, c) Male Gender, d) HIV negative serostats
Interventions
- BehavioralLPP+: Mindfulness Meditation Delivered
During the 6-week intervention period, participants will receive reminder SMS text messages at a time selected by the participant at 48 and 24-hrs before each scheduled study visit. Within 24 hours after every session, participants will receive an SMS text reminder to complete a session satisfaction survey. If the satisfaction surveys are not completed within 48 hours after each session, participants will receive an additional SMS text message once per day for three consecutive days after each planned study visit. Twenty-four hours before each scheduled study visit after study visit number 1, participants will an SMS text requiring a one-character response (1= yes, 2=no), asking if participants practiced any mindfulness meditation techniques since the last session. Participants who have not interacted with the app during the previous week will receive an accountability call to assess barriers to participation.
- BehavioralLP
LinkPositively is a culturally tailored, trauma-informed smartphone app for Black women living with HIV/AIDS affected by interpersonal violence. Core components of LinkPositively include: a) Virtual Peer Navigation that includes phone and text check-ins and 4 weekly one-on-one video sessions to build skills to cope with barriers and navigate care; b) Social Networking platform to receive peer support; c) Educational and Self-care database with healthy living and self-care tips; d) GPS-enabled Resource Locator for HIV care and ancillary support service agencies; and e) ART self-monitoring and reminder system.
Locations (3)
- Guiding Right, Inc.Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- New Hope Wellness CenterOklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Guiding Right, Inc.Tulsa, Oklahoma