Community Health Workers And MHealth to ImProve Viral Suppression Plus (CHAMPS+)
Columbia University
Summary
Although global efforts have been made to end the HIV epidemic, there are still some gaps in HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and viral suppression (VS) among people with HIV (PWH). These gaps are particularly prominent in the Deep South of the United States (US), where PWH face challenges in accessing healthcare services. In response, a team of experienced researchers has developed and tested the Community Health Workers And MHealth to ImProve Viral Suppression (CHAMPS) intervention. This intervention uses mobile health (mHealth) technology and a team of community health workers (CHW) to design an intervention to improve ART adherence and VS. The CHAMPS+ intervention adds a CHW delivered supportive risk reduction counseling during periods of non-suppression to prevent HIV transmission. The study will engage the participants by developing culturally relevant materials and retention strategies, evaluating the clinical effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention in Deep South settings, and assessing regionalized implementation factors. Ultimately, the study will test the effectiveness of CHAMPS+ on ART adherence and viral load suppression for PWH in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Description
Despite efforts to achieve UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, marked deficits remain in HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and viral suppression (VS) among a growing number of persons with HIV (PWH). Gaps in HIV treatment success are particularly pronounced in the United States (US) Deep South. These suboptimal HIV health outcomes occur at a time when clinicians have limited time and the US healthcare system remains fragmented, further exacerbating the challenges inherent in the lives of underserved, marginalized groups, such as PWH. In this way, the development and evaluation of inter…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Be able to speak, read, and write in English; * Be above 18 years of age; * Be willing to participate in any assigned arm of the intervention; * Have an HIV-1 RNA level \>200 copies/mL; * Own a smartphone; * Be able and willing to provide informed consent for study participation and consent for access to medical records. * Live, work and or receive care in AL, LA, or MS Exclusion Criteria: * Reside in a nursing home, prison, and/or receiving in-patient psychiatric care at time of enrollment; * Terminal illness with life expectancy \<6 months; and * Planning to move out…
Interventions
- BehavioralCHW Sessions
Sessions with a Community Health Worker (CHW).
- DeviceCleverCap
The CleverCap pill bottle is an innovative technology that dispenses only the prescribed amount of medication, keeps track of medications dispensed, and communicates wirelessly with the WiseApp to deliver medication adherence reminders.
Locations (5)
- Health Services Center, Inc.Hobson City, Alabama
- Unity Wellness CenterOpelika, Alabama
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane UniversityNew Orleans, Louisiana
- University of Mississippi Medical CenterJackson, Mississippi