A Pilot Study to Examine Efficacy of Peer Mentoring in Promoting Medication Adherence Among People Living With HIV/AIDS

A Pilot Study Using Randomized, Parallel Design to Compare the Efficacy of Peer Mentoring Versus Standard of Care in Promoting Medication Adherence Among Newly Diagnosed and Medication Non-adherent People Living With HIV/AIDS

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an in-person peer mentoring and health literacy intervention on improving medication adherence, HIV-1 viral load, CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, and HIV medical appointment attendance among newly-diagnosed and/or medication non-adherent HIV-positive individuals, compared to standard of care provider/staff-delivered education.

Inclusion Criteria: All of the following criteria must be met for a participant to be eligible for the study:

• Confirmed diagnosis of HIV-1
• Newly diagnosed and initiating treatment (e.g., treatment naive) OR off medications for more than fourteen consecutive days (2 weeks) and re-initiating treatment OR currently on antiretroviral therapy with demonstrated ongoing adherence problems (missing more than 3 doses per month)
• Has a detectable (greater than 50 copies/ml) HIV-1 viral load
• Is able to obtain HIV medications during the entire study period (e.g., if uninsured, is enrolled in AIDS Drug Assistance Program).

Exclusion Criteria: Subject is ineligible for this study if:

• He/She suffers from cognitive impairment, active psychosis, or has a known history of harming others, OR
• He/She has a severe mental health and/or substance abuse condition that requires residential or inpatient treatment, OR
• The medical provider believes participation would not be in the best interest of the subject for other reasons.