This research proposal requests 3 years of support to conduct developmental intervention studies to design and field test a theory-based intervention to address food insecurity and improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among men and women living with HIV infection. Food insecurity is prevalent among people living with HIV in US inner-cities, with as many as 43% not having sufficient food and experiencing intermittent hunger. Food insecurity has demonstrated direct associations with ART adherence including predicting non-adherence over and above other factors including depression, social support, and alcohol use. Food insecurity is particularly problematic in relation to substance abuse given competing survival needs and the dire combined health consequences of alcoholism, addiction and malnutrition. Guided by the Conservation of Resources Theory of Stress and Coping, we will conduct 3 stages of intervention development research: (1) initial interviews and focus groups with people living with HIV who take ART, use substances, and experience food insecurity. Based on information gained from rapid formative studies, this first stage of research will be used to develop a theory-based intervention to address accessing food and sustaining ART adherence;(2) Test the feasibility of the newly developed food insecurity and adherence intervention with a small sample of HIV positive men and women who are taking ART, use substances, and experience food insecurity. Stage 2 will also finalize and pilot test all assessment instruments and protocols for data collection;and (3) Conduct a randomized field test to determine the potential efficacy of the food insecurity and ART adherence intervention. Participants in the field test will be randomly assigned to either receive the newly developed intervention or a time matched attention comparison condition. Following a 6- month follow-up period, we will test for differences between groups on ART adherence, food access, nutrition, and coping resource outcomes. The intervention development will include pilot testing daily food, mood, and substance use behaviors monitored by interactive text-message surveys. We will also examine the intervention effects on mediating theoretical constructs derived by Conservation of Resources Theory. Our developmental research will also examine the feasibility and acceptability of conducting the intervention in face-to-face intervention sessions. The proposed intervention research will therefore develop new strategies for use with people living with HIV who are taking ART under adverse conditions with multiple competing needs.

Public Health Relevance

Lack of access to food and the intermittent experience of hunger are prevalent among people living with HIV in the United States. Effective strategies are urgently needed to assist people living with HIV to access food and sustain long- term medication adherence under the most challenging conditions. This proposal requests support to conduct developmental research to design and field test a theory-based intervention to directly address food insecurity, hunger and poor nutrition as barriers to medication adherence among men and women living with HIV infection in US urban areas.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA021471-02
Application #
8733111
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSCH)
Program Officer
Roach, Deidra
Project Start
2013-09-15
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Storrs-Mansfield
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06269
Chen, Yiyun; Chen, Kun; Kalichman, Seth C (2017) Barriers to HIV Medication Adherence as a Function of Regimen Simplification. Ann Behav Med 51:67-78
Kalichman, Seth; Katner, Harold; Banas, Ellen et al. (2017) Population Density and AIDS-Related Stigma in Large-Urban, Small-Urban, and Rural Communities of the Southeastern USA. Prev Sci 18:517-525
Kalichman, Seth C; Kalichman, Moira O; Cherry, Chauncey (2017) Forget about forgetting: structural barriers and severe non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Care 29:418-422
Pellowski, Jennifer A; Kalichman, Seth C; Cherry, Sabrina et al. (2016) The Daily Relationship Between Aspects of Food Insecurity and Medication Adherence Among People Living with HIV with Recent Experiences of Hunger. Ann Behav Med 50:844-853
Pellowski, Jennifer A; Kalichman, Seth C; Kalichman, Moira O et al. (2016) Alcohol-antiretroviral therapy interactive toxicity beliefs and daily medication adherence and alcohol use among people living with HIV. AIDS Care 28:963-70
Cornelius, Talea; Gettens, Katelyn; Gorin, Amy A (2016) Dyadic Dynamics in a Randomized Weight Loss Intervention. Ann Behav Med 50:506-15
Kalichman, Seth C; Eaton, Lisa; Kalichman, Moira O et al. (2016) Race-based medical mistrust, medication beliefs and HIV treatment adherence: test of a mediation model in people living with HIV/AIDS. J Behav Med 39:1056-1064
Kalichman, Seth C; Cherry, Chauncey; Kalichman, Moira O et al. (2016) Sexual Behaviors and Transmission Risks Among People Living with HIV: Beliefs, Perceptions, and Challenges to Using Treatments as Prevention. Arch Sex Behav 45:1421-30
Kalichman, Seth; Kalichman, Moira O; Cherry, Chauncey (2016) Medication beliefs and structural barriers to treatment adherence among people living with HIV infection. Psychol Health 31:383-95
Kalichman, Seth C; Kalichman, Moira O; Cherry, Charsey et al. (2015) Intentional Medication Nonadherence Because of Interactive Toxicity Beliefs Among HIV-Positive Active Drug Users. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 70:503-9

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