Supporting Health Behavior Among Persons Living With HIV Using Tech, MOST, and Behavioral Economics

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The present study focuses on adult persons living with HIV in the New York City and Newark, New Jersey metropolitan areas who are not highly adherent to HIV medication and who do not evidence undetectable HIV viral load (the ultimate goal of HIV treatment). Those who have not decided whether they wish to take HIV medications are invited to enroll. The study uses technology, is grounded in principles of behavioral economics, and uses the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to examine the acceptability, feasibility, and evidence of efficacy of three intervention components. The components are intended to increase rates of HIV viral suppression in the sample. The three components are: prizes for viral suppression (fixed compensation [$275] or lottery prizes [up to $500]), text messages and quiz questions that generate points to earn prizes (to foster engagement), and counseling sessions grounded in the motivational interviewing approach to help participants articulate goals with respect to health and viral suppression, identify and resolve barriers to HIV medication use, and build motivation for viral suppression. Participants are assessed at baseline and then 5- and 8-months later.

Detailed Description
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The present study focuses on adult persons living with HIV who are not highly adherent to HIV medication and who do not evidence undetectable HIV viral load (the ultimate goal of HIV treatment). The study uses technology, is grounded in principles of behavioral economics, and uses the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to examine the acceptability, feasibility, and evidence of efficacy of three intervention components. The components are intended to increase rates of HIV viral suppression in the sample. All participants receive a core intervention comprised of referrals to care and case management. The three components are: compensation for viral suppression (fixed compensation or lottery-type prizes), weekly text messages and quiz questions (TMQQ) for 21 weeks that generate points to earn compensation (to foster engagement), and three counseling sessions grounded in the motivational interviewing (MI) approach to help participants articulate goals with respect to health and viral suppression, identify and resolve barriers to HIV medication use, and build motivation for viral suppression. We have previously tested variations of these components together as a packaged intervention and found high acceptability, feasibility, and evidence of efficacy. We now seek to understand this approach with more precision by testing the effects of individual components using MOST. The components will be tested in a factorial design with 8 intervention conditions. Consistent with the factorial design, each condition will comprise a unique combination of components. Each condition includes at least one component. Participants will be recruited by a proven hybrid strategy that includes peer recruitment, ads placed in a free newspaper, and direct recruitment from an NYU Recruitment Registry managed by Dr. Gwadz. Participants will be screened for eligibility and a total of 80 adult persons living with HIV and with detectable HIV viral load will be enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to an intervention condition. Participants will be assessed at baseline and 5- and 8-months post-baseline with a structured assessment battery. A subset will receive in-depth interviews. The primary outcome is viral suppression. This is a pilot study. It is not powered for efficacy but we will examine evidence of efficacy. All study activities can be carried out in a virtual format, and we can switch to in-person contact for screening, assessment, and some components when appropriate. In-person activities would be conducted at the New York University Silver field site in Manhattan. The study is funded through the Constance and Martin Silver Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fund at the New York University Silver School of Social Work.

Official Title
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Supporting Health Behavior Among Persons Living With HIV Using Technology, the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), and Principles of Behavioral Economics

Conditions
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HIV Seropositivity, Adherence, Medication

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: MI sessions
* Behavioral: TMQQ
* Behavioral: Type of compensation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 18-65 years Has diagnosis of HIV infection Resides in the New York City or Newark, NJ metropolitan areas Can conduct research activities in English Has a phone that can send and receive text messages Has not participated in a conditional economic incentive program for HIV viral suppression in the past month Has not been enrolled in this research team's two recent studies Has detectable HIV viral load (> 200 pp/mL) by lab report Exclusion Criteria: None

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Factorial design with 3 components and 8 conditions
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Condition 1<br>Core, fixed compensation, TMQQ, MI sessions | Behavioral: MI sessions<br>* Three counseling sessions lasting less than 60 minutes each to identify goals, factors that promote or impede goals, and increase readiness for ART with high adherence<br>Behavioral: TMQQ<br>* Weekly text messages with health information as well as motivational messages. Two days later a true/false quiz question is sent. Participants earn 4 points for answering correctly, 2 points for answering incorrectly, and 0 points for not answering. Participants earn $1 for each point. Messages are sent over 21 weeks.<br>Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 2<br>Core, lottery prize, TMQQ, MI sessions | Behavioral: MI sessions<br>* Three counseling sessions lasting less than 60 minutes each to identify goals, factors that promote or impede goals, and increase readiness for ART with high adherence<br>Behavioral: TMQQ<br>* Weekly text messages with health information as well as motivational messages. Two days later a true/false quiz question is sent. Participants earn 4 points for answering correctly, 2 points for answering incorrectly, and 0 points for not answering. Participants earn $1 for each point. Messages are sent over 21 weeks.<br>Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 3<br>Core, fixed compensation, MI sessions | Behavioral: MI sessions<br>* Three counseling sessions lasting less than 60 minutes each to identify goals, factors that promote or impede goals, and increase readiness for ART with high adherence<br>Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 4<br>Core, lottery prize, MI sessions | Behavioral: MI sessions<br>* Three counseling sessions lasting less than 60 minutes each to identify goals, factors that promote or impede goals, and increase readiness for ART with high adherence<br>Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 5<br>Core, fixed compensation, TMQQ | Behavioral: TMQQ<br>* Weekly text messages with health information as well as motivational messages. Two days later a true/false quiz question is sent. Participants earn 4 points for answering correctly, 2 points for answering incorrectly, and 0 points for not answering. Participants earn $1 for each point. Messages are sent over 21 weeks.<br>Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 6<br>Core, lottery prize, TMQQ | Behavioral: TMQQ<br>* Weekly text messages with health information as well as motivational messages. Two days later a true/false quiz question is sent. Participants earn 4 points for answering correctly, 2 points for answering incorrectly, and 0 points for not answering. Participants earn $1 for each point. Messages are sent over 21 weeks.<br>Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 7<br>Core, fixed compensation | Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|
| Experimental: Condition 8<br>Core, lottery prize | Behavioral: Type of compensation<br>* Participants who achieve HIV viral suppression at 21 weeks will receive either fixed compensation of $275 or be entered into a lottery where they have a 3/10 chance of winning $500, and a 7/10 chance of winning $175. Those who do not achieve HIV viral suppression receive a $50 participant incentive.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Undetectable HIV viral load | achievement of undetectable HIV viral load (< 200 pp/mL) | 5-months post-baseline | 
| Undetectable HIV viral load | achievement of undetectable HIV viral load (< 200 pp/mL) | 8-months post-baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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HIV, behavioral economics, adherence, HIV antiretroviral therapy, ART non-persistence, HIV non-suppression