The effect of group support psychotherapy on adherence to anti-retroviral therapy and viral suppression among HIV positive young people: Study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Frontiers in Health Services

Health Services

Benedict Akimana¹  Edward J. Mills²  Jane Iya³  Caroline Nakanyike³  Sabrina Bakeera Kitaka⁴  Justine Diana Namuli⁵  Musisi Seggane⁵  Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu⁶  Kizito Wamala⁷  Jean B. Nachega⁸  Joyce Sserunjoji Nalugya⁹ 

[1] Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, Ministry of Health of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada;Department of Paediatrics and Childhealth, MakCHS, SEEK Group Support Psychotherapy Initiative Limited, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Pediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Paediatrics and Childhealth, MakCHS, SEEK Group Support Psychotherapy Initiative Limited, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Psychology, Center for Victims of Torture, Gulu, Uganda;Departments of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States;Center for Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa;Departments of International Health and Epidemiology, Bloomberg’s School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Kampala, Uganda;Ministry of Health, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda;

关键词: Randomized controlled trial;    group support psychotherapy;    ART adherence;    viral suppression;    young people living with HIV/AIDS;    Uganda;   

DOI  :  10.3389/frhs.2023.1011898

 received in 2022-08-04, accepted in 2023-03-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSeveral studies have demonstrated an association between psychological risk factors and HIV disease progression. However, there is limited information on the use of psychological interventions to improve HIV treatment outcomes in young people living with HIV.ObjectiveThis pilot trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of group support psychotherapy in improving adherence to anti-retroviral therapy and viral suppression in young people living with HIV in Uganda.MethodsWe recruited 120 young people with HIV, aged 10–18 years, who had non-viral suppression 6 months after initiating first-line anti-retroviral therapy (ART) from community based HIV clinics in Kitgum district, northern Uganda. Participants were randomly assigned to receive GSP plus IAC (N = 60) or IAC alone (N = 60). Primary outcomes will be indicators of feasibility and acceptability as well as preliminary effectiveness of GSP in improving ART adherence and viral suppression analysed by intention to treat using cluster-adjusted t tests and permutation tests. Secondary outcomes will be measures of depression, anxiety and cost-effectiveness.ResultsThe trial has been approved by the Makerere College of Health Sciences School of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology. Recruitment began in June 2021 and 120 young people living with HIV with their adult caregivers have been recruited to the trial. An analysis of baseline and 6-month data is in progress. The results of this trial will not only be presented at national and international conferences but also submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and as a report to the funding agencies.ConclusionsThis pilot trial will provide critical evidence to support the ongoing mental health integration into routine HIV care in Uganda.Trial RegistrationPan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR): 202006601935462

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2023 Nakimuli-Mpungu, Wamala, Nalugya, Nakanyike, Iya, Bakeera Kitaka, Diana Namuli, Akimana, Nachega, Mills and Seggane.