Exploring how women with HIV develop hazardous drinking patterns: a qualitative assessment of drinking histories.

Introduction: Hazardous alcohol use is prevalent among people with HIV, with women disproportionately experiencing adverse alcohol-related outcomes in HIV care. This study aimed to qualitatively explore factors contributing to the onset, escalation, and continuation of hazardous drinking among women with HIV.

Methods: Women with HIV and hazardous drinking patterns were recruited from the WHAT-IF? Study, a randomized trial evaluating the efficacy of naltrexone for alcohol reduction.

Alcohol reduction strategies among persons with hiv: past attempts, self-reported effectiveness, and future strategies of interest.

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with poor health outcomes in people with HIV (PWH). Although various alcohol reduction strategies exist, little is known about PWH's past experiences or future preferences. This study describes the previous strategies PWH had used, their perceived effectiveness, among people who ever drank, and the strategies PWH who endorsed heavy drinking would consider trying in the future.

Behavioral and Demographic Profiles of HIV Transmission and Exposure Networks in Florida: Network Analysis of HIV Contact Tracing Data.

Background: To complete the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in areas with high HIV incidence, there needs to be a greater understanding of the demographic, behavioral, and geographic factors that influence the rate of new HIV diagnoses. This information will aid the creation of targeted prevention and intervention efforts.

Objective: This study aims to identify the geographic distribution of risk groups and their role within potential transmission networks in Florida.

A Closer Look at the Perceived Factors Contributing To Late HIV Diagnoses: A Qualitative Study among People with HIV.

Late HIV diagnosis is an obstacle to ending the HIV epidemic. This study aimed to identify perceived reasons for late HIV diagnoses through semi-structured interviews among people with HIV. Researchers used the social-ecological model (SEM) to examine how factors at the individual, relationship/interpersonal, and community levels affect timely HIV testing and diagnosis.

Prevalence and characteristics of people with HIV who had late, delayed and timely HIV diagnoses in Florida, 2015-2021.

Different definitions of late HIV diagnosis are used to represent people diagnosed at an advanced stage of their illness. How well varying definitions represent those at risk for poor outcomes is unclear. Our aim was to examine proportions of late, delayed and timely HIV diagnoses in Florida and identify factors associated with diagnosis status.

Recommendations for the Design and Implementation of Alcohol Pharmacotherapy Trials: Perspectives of Women With HIV Participating in the WHAT-IF Study.

Objectives: Naltrexone for alcohol reduction has been poorly studied in women with HIV (WWH), for whom heavy alcohol use is associated with negative HIV outcomes. This study offers recommendations for researchers conducting alcohol pharmacotherapy trials among PWH as suggested by WWH who participated in an alcohol pharmacotherapy trial in Florida.

Methods: The WHAT-IF? Study enrolled WWH with a history of heavy alcohol use in Miami, Florida, into a clinical trial where participants were randomized to receive naltrexone or placebo to assess effectiveness among WWH.

Reasons for not seeking alcohol treatment among a sample of Florida adults with HIV who perceived the need for treatment.

Background: A minority of people who need alcohol treatment receive it. Unhealthy alcohol use is common among people with HIV (PWH) and can lead to negative health outcomes. The aims of this multi-methods study are to (1) quantitatively describe the prevalence, psychosocial characteristics, and demographic traits of a sample of PWH currently receiving HIV care in Florida who had a self-reported need for alcohol treatment but did not seek care and (2) qualitatively explore reasons why PWH did not seek treatment.

Implementation of a computerized tool to address barriers to academic success among college students.

Objective: Academic assistance professionals work with college students to address barriers to academic success, although few assessment tools exist. This feasibility study examined the results of implementing a computerized tool for academic assistance professionals to help students. The Measure of Obstacles to Succeeding Academically in College (MOSAIC) is a 31-item risk assessment tool used to characterize academic barriers.

Does treating pain with alcohol affect drinking reduction among women with HIV enrolled in a clinical trial of naltrexone?

Background: Many women living with HIV (WLWH) experience pain. Alcohol use with the intent to treat pain could lead to hazardous drinking and difficulty in reducing drinking. Naltrexone acts on opioid receptors important for pain regulation and is an approved treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Antiretroviral Therapy Concealment Behaviors and their Association with Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among People with HIV: Findings from the Florida Cohort Study.

Little is known about HIV medication concealment behaviors and the effect of medication concealment on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people with HIV (PWH). This study aims to (1) to describe medication concealment behaviors and factors associated with these behaviors, and (2) assess the association between medication concealment and suboptimal ART adherence. The Florida Cohort Study enrolled adult PWH from community-based clinics around the state from October 2020 to September 2022 (n = 416, 62% aged 50+, 56% male, 44% non-Hispanic Black, 18% Hispanic).

A Content Analysis of HIV-Related Stigmatizing Language in the Scientific Literature, From 2010-2020: Findings and Recommendations for Editorial Policy.

Despite negative effects of HIV-related stigma on people with HIV, some scientific literature continues to use stigmatizing terms. Our study aimed to explore the use of HIV-related stigmatizing language in the scientific literature between 2010 and 2020 based on 2015 UNAIDS terminology guidelines. We searched for articles with the stigmatizing term "HIV/AIDS-infected" or any variations that were peer-reviewed, published between 2010 and 2020, and in English or with an English translation.

Changes in frequency of cannabis use among people with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-methods study to explore the underlying reasons for change.

People with HIV (PWH) report higher rates of cannabis use than the general population. It is unclear how cannabis use among PWH has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications for the health and wellbeing of PWH. To describe changes in frequency of cannabis use among a sample of PWH during the pandemic, reasons for those changes, and implications of the findings.

Drug use and severe outcomes among adults hospitalized with influenza, 2016-2019.

Background: Influenza is a persistent public health problem associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Drug use is related to myriad health complications, but the relationship between drug use and severe influenza outcomes is not well understood. The study objective was to evaluate the relationship between drug use and severe influenza-associated outcomes.

Assessing the quality of tuberculosis care using routine surveillance data: a process evaluation employing the Zero TB Indicator Framework in Mongolia.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of the Zero TB Indicator Framework as a tool for assessing the quality of tuberculosis (TB) case-finding, treatment and prevention services in Mongolia.

Setting: Primary health centres, TB dispensaries, and surrounding communities in four districts of Mongolia.

Design: Three retrospective cross-sectional cohort studies, and two longitudinal studies each individually nested in one of the cohort studies.

Changes in Mental Health Among People with HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives.

People with HIV (PWH) are at risk for adverse mental health outcomes, which could be elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study describes reasons for changes in mental health among PWH during the pandemic. Data come from closed- and open-ended questions about mental health changes from a follow-up to a cohort study on PWH in Florida during part of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020-March 2021).

The Relationship of Alcohol to ART Adherence Among Black MSM in the U.S.: Is it Any Different Among Black MSM in the South?

Alcohol-using Black MSM (Men who have sex with men) are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the U.S.-particularly in the southern U.

Practical Considerations in Qualitative Health Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced both quantitative and qualitative health researchers to adapt and strategize data collection strategies without causing any harm to the participants or researchers. This has resulted in utilizing various types of strategies such as online surveys and synchronous virtual platforms such as Zoom and Webex. This transition from face-to-face to synchronous online platforms has helped in increasing coverage as well as reaching participants who are otherwise unreachable.

Risks associated with alcohol and marijuana use among college student athletes: The case for involving athletic personnel in prevention and intervention.

The purpose of this study was to describe alcohol and marijuana use patterns and related consequences among student athletes. A total of 12,510 students (=1,233 athletes) completed four cross-sectional online annual surveys as part of a multi-site campus initiative. Chi-square tests of independence, t-tests, and regression models evaluated differences in alcohol and marijuana use between athletes and non-athletes.