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. 2013 Aug 31:4:10.4172/2155-6113.1000236.
doi: 10.4172/2155-6113.1000236.

Project nGage: Network Supported HIV Care Engagement for Younger Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Persons

Alida Bouris  1 , Dexter Voisin  1 , Molly Pilloton  2 , Natasha Flatt  2 , Rebecca Eavou  2 , Kischa Hampton  3 , Lisa M Kuhns  4 , Milton Eder  3 , John A Schneider  5
Affiliations

Project nGage: Network Supported HIV Care Engagement for Younger Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Persons

Alida Bouris et al. J AIDS Clin Res. .

Abstract

Background: Young Black men who have sex with men and transgender persons (YBMSMT) aged 13-29 carry the nation's highest burden of new HIV infections. Studies indicate that YBMSMT have poor retention in care, which is associated with reduced medication adherence and increased virologic failure.

Objective: Project nGage is a randomized controlled (RCT) trial evaluating the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a brief, dyadic intervention designed to promote adherence to HIV primary care in safety-net clinics. Network visualization is used to identify and engage a support confidant (SC) from participants' social networks. A social work interventionist then meets with the SC and SC-participant dyad to activate and maintain HIV-specific social support.

Methods: Project nGage is operating in two phases. In Phase I, the Team refined study protocols based on pilot testing. In Phase II, 94 HIV infected YBMSMT ages 16-29 will be recruited, enrolled and randomly assigned to receive Project nGage or treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome is appointment attendance; the secondary outcomes are medication adherence and viral load.

Results: Implementation challenges include coordinating sites, managing dyadic intervention logistics, and recruiting non-adherent patients or those who have fallen out of care. The team continues to address implementation issues as the study progresses.

Conclusions: Project nGage is addressing a gap in HIV care-related research by focusing on supportive relationships as a mechanism through which to promote retention in care. Pending study results, a larger RCT would compare the relative effectiveness of the Project nGage intervention versus TAU over 18 to 24 months.

Keywords: Adherence; African American; HIV/AIDS; Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills model; Men who have sex with men; Network visualization; Retention in care; Social networks; Social support; Transgender persons; Transtheoretical model.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
1MB Model for HIV Specific Support [32,53].
Figure 2
Figure 2
HIV Specific Support for Appointment Adherence [19].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Randomization by Adherence and Retention Specturm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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