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Objectives. Chat room-based prevention interventions for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are being implemented to reduce the risk of HIV exposure, infection, and re-infection among men who have sex with men (MSM).Methods. Our community-based participatory research partnership implemented a chat room-based intervention known as Cyber-Based Education and Referral/Men for Men (CyBER/M4M). We collected both quantitative and qualitative data to describe the characteristics of chat-room participants ('chatters') and their HIV risks and prevention needs, and to document intervention delivery.Results. Of the 1,851 chatters who participated in the 18-month intervention, 210 completed the online assessment. The mean age was 30 years. Although the majority self-identified as gay, 25.8% self-identified as bisexual. More than half self-identified as white and one-third as black or African American. A total of 8.6% reported being HIV-positive and 14.8% reported never having been tested for H IV.Grounded theory analysis of transcripts from chat-room instant-message discussions identified 13 thematic categories related to chatter characteristics, prevention needs, and intervention delivery. Chatters were looking for sexual partners, were not open about their orientation, lacked basic information about HIV, had questions about how to be tested, and perceived a lack of general community resources to meet their needs. Furthermore, CyBER educators had to understand and respect the online culture, build trust, and deliver well-crafted and focused messages.Conclusions. Chat room-based interventions hold promise to systematically reach Internet communities of MSM, a group that is particularly at risk for infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a well regarded physical functioning assessment including balance, gait speed, and chair-stand tests. Its use has not been widely assessed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care. We evaluated the feasibility of integrating the SPPB into care of aging people living with HIV (PLWH) and compared SPPB performance with aged HIV-uninfected individuals., Methods: We enrolled PLWH aged ≥50 at 3 HIV clinics and compared their SPPB scores and subscores with older HIV-uninfected adults in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. We conducted regression analyses on age stratified by sex and adjusting for site, and we calculated percentage variance explained by age among PLWH and HIV-uninfected adults., Results: The SPPB was feasible to implement in clinical care and did not require licensed professionals; 176 PLWH completed it with a mean completion time of 7.0 minutes (standard deviation = 2.6). Overall mean SPPB score among PLWH was 10.3 (median 11.0, 25th percentile 9.0, 75th percentile 12.0). People living with HIV were younger than HIV-uninfected individuals (55 vs 74 years old). Mean SPPB scores and most subscores were similar among PLWH and older HIV-uninfected individuals despite the ~20-year age difference. Regression analyses of gait speed revealed similar slopes in PLWH and HIV-uninfected individuals; however, separate intercepts were needed for PLWH. Mean gait speeds were faster in older HIV-uninfected men and women (P < .01), yet relationships with age within PLWH and HIV uninfected were similar., Conclusions: The SPPB can be implemented into busy HIV clinics. Despite the ~20-year age difference, mean scores were similar among PLWH and older HIV-uninfected individuals, although gait speed was faster among HIV-uninfected individuals.

Background: HIV testing and linkage to care are critical first steps along the care continuum. Targeted efforts are needed in the South to achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and qualitative examination of testing and linkage to care from the perspective of professionals in the field can provide nuanced insight into the strengths and limitations of a care system to inform improvement efforts. These issues are explored in North Carolina (NC), with potential applicability to other Southern states., Methods: Twenty-one interviews were conducted with professionals in the HIV prevention and care systems in NC. Interviews were analyzed for emergent themes., Results: Individuals' access barriers, aspects of clinics and clinical care, challenges for community-based organizations, stigma, and the role of the NC Department of Health and Human Services were identified as themes affecting testing and linkage., Discussion: These findings can inform efforts to address HIV testing and linkage to care in NC. This approach may provide beneficial insight for other systems of care., (© The Author(s) 2015.)