HIV/AIDS
Selected Research and Commentary
Patterns of HIV Care for Patients with Serious Mental Illness — Mar. 24, 2006
Results of this study suggest that seriously mentally ill patients with HIV are receiving adequate HIV care. Fifty-one percent of these patients were taking highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) and more than 80% received close monitoring of their CD4 counts and viral loads.
HIV Testing Rates Vary Across Residential ZIP Codes — Mar. 24, 2006
Residents of ZIP code areas with higher concentrations of African Americans were more likely to get tested for HIV than residents of White or Latino areas, regardless of individuals' own race/ethnicity or the number of AIDS cases or testing sites in those areas.
Depression and PTSD Both Impact HIV Patients' Medication Use and Health Outcomes — Feb. 24, 2006
In patients with HIV, having symptoms of depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affected how well these patients followed their prescribed treatment with medications. However, patients with symptoms of both mental disorders were also more likely to have a detectable viral load.
Gender Differences in Sexual Risk Reduction Strategies — Jan. 25, 2006
Sexual risk reduction behavior among heterosexual illegal drug users revealed gender-based differences that require appropriate intervention strategies. In both men and women, stronger commitment to safer sex results in less risky behavior. For men, greater understanding of AIDS resulted in safer behavior, while for women risk was reduced in connection with higher self-efficacy.
Oral Health Findings for Adult Patients with HIV — Oct. 14, 2005
The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS) examines issues related to adult medical patients who are HIV-positive. This article presents oral health findings and concludes that Medicaid programs should include adult dental benefits.
Majority of HIV Patients Report Importance of Spirituality — Sep. 1, 2005
A large majority of HIV-infected patients in the U.S. affirm the importance of religiousness and spirituality. Certain demographic factors were associated with religiousness or spirituality, but no relationship was found to patients' clinical stage of HIV.
Associating Mental Health and Use of Medical Services for HIV Patients — Jul. 28, 2005
Serious mental illness is often accompanied by psychological distress. Identifying HIV patients with symptoms of affective or anxiety disorders may reduce overall treament costs.
Maximizing HIV Prevention in the U.S. — Jul. 12, 2005
Focusing HIV-related interventions on the most cost-effective strategies may prevent substantially more HIV infections in the United States each year than current approaches.
Many Adults with HIV Perceive Discrimination by Health Care Providers — Jul. 7, 2005
Twenty-six percent of HIV-infected adults in a national sample perceived some form of discrimination by a health care provider. Whites were more likely than Latinos or Blacks to report the problem.
Couple-Focused Support Can Improve HIV Medication Adherence — Jun. 1, 2005
A randomized control trial (SMART couples) found that participants in the program significantly improved their adherence to medication schedules. However, effects diminished with time, as seen at follow-up at 3 and 6 months.
RAND Health HIV Study Wins Award — May 25, 2005
A pioneering study based on the first national probability sample of HIV adult patients receiving medical care in the United States has been awarded the 2005 Policy Impact Award by the American Association for Public Opinion Research.
Young adults are at significant sexual risk for HIV infection — Apr. 15, 2005
Rising prevalence of HIV suggests that prevention programs should target individuals who use alcohol frequently and who are victims of violence.
Do People with HIV Get the Dental Care They Need? — Mar. 9, 2005
How likely is it that a person who is in regular medical care for HIV or full-blown AIDS will receive regular and appropriate dental care, and how common are the oral health conditions that have come to be seen as synonymous with HIV? Those are the questions that a group of researchers at RAND and the UCLA School of Dentistry has been trying to answer for the persons enrolled in the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS).
HIV Testing Among Indigent Women — Feb. 14, 2005
AIDS is currently among the ten leading causes of death for women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death for African American women between the ages of 25 and 34, according to the Centers for Disease Control, which advocates recommending and routinely providing testing and counseling in settings frequented by at-risk clients.
Conspiracy Beliefs Among African Americans Deter Condom Use — Jan. 25, 2005
Significant numbers of African Americans believe in conspiracy theories about AIDS, and black men with such beliefs are less likely to use condoms as a precaution against spreading the HIV virus.
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Reducing Sexual Risk Among Injection Drug Users — Jan. 14, 2005
Multiple sexual partnerships, sex work, and unprotected intercourse are common among injection drug users (IDUs). IDUs are also more likely to engage in heterosexual anal intercourse, which is associated with greater risk for HIV transmission than is vaginal sex. Thus, reducing IDUs' sexual risk is an important step in stemming the HIV epidemic.
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies. — Aug. 17, 2004
The cost-effectiveness of an HIV prevention strategy depends on the HIV prevalence among the population at risk and the cost per person reached. Estimates of the relative cost-effectiveness of a variety of HIV interventions should help local communities maximize the impact of their HIV prevention resources.
Researchers Call for Substance Use Interventions Aimed at HIV-Positive Gay Men — Jun., 2004
This study examined the prevalence of substance use among men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDUs), and heterosexual men and women. Although researchers found that substance use was most prevalent among MSM, they do not find that the risk of HIV transmission to uninfected partners is more or less associated with substance use. Still, the researcher argue that interventions aimed at jointly reducing substance use and high-risk sex behaviors should be targeted particularly toward HIV-positive MSM.
Human Barriers to Use of HIV 'Clinical Reminders' — Jun., 2004
Human factors barriers to the use of HIV clinical reminders were identified. Reducing these barriers has the potential to increase use of the clinical reminders and thereby improve the quality of HIV care.
Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events in Patients With HIV — Feb., 2003
Use of newer therapies for HIV was associated with a large benefit in terms of mortality that was not diminished by any increase in the rate of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events or related mortality. Fear of accelerated vascular disease need not compromise antiretroviral therapy over the short term.
Sex Without Disclosure of Positive HIV Status — Jun., 2003
Risky sex without disclosure of serostatus is not uncommon among people with HIV.
Older HIV Population Is Diverse — Jun., 2003
Older HIV-positive population are very diverse and vary sharply by exposure route. Interventions need to be tailored to the needs of these distinct subpopulations, with an emphasis on development of supportive care interventions for older injection drug users.
Patterns of Coping Among Persons with HIV — Sep., 2003
High levels of distress can induce blame-withdrawal coping, whereas coping efforts are minimal when social support and emotional well-being are high.
Insurance Status of Adults With HIV in Post-HAART Era — 2003
HIV-positive patients with public coverage have substantial work experience and earnings capacity, but do not work. Reforms allowing them to maintain public coverage while returning to work could increase employment and earnings significantly.
The Link Between Public and Private Insurance and HIV-related Mortality — Nov., 2003
Private insurance is more effective than public insurance, and the better performance of private insurance can be explained in part by more restrictive Medicaid prescription drug policies that limit access to highly efficacious treatment.
Oral Health, HIV, and Use of Dental Services — Spr., 2003
Persons with more HIV-related symptoms and a diagnosis of AIDS have a greater need for dental care than those with fewer symptoms and without AIDS, but more pressing needs for physical and mental health services limit their access to dental services.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Substitution for Conventional Therapy — Jun., 2003
Physicians should openly ask HIV patients about complementary and alternative medicine use to prevent adverse effects and to identify substitution for conventional HIV therapy.
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