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Cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination are critical for those immunocompromised due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Health education programs, including text messaging, can effectively improve knowledge of cervical cancer and recommended screening. This paper describes the data-driven development of a 4-week text-messaging intervention to improve HPV and cervical cancer knowledge among women living with HIV (WLH). This study reports data from surveys (n  = 81; January 2020 to September 2021) and focus group discussions (FGDs, n  = 39; April–June 2020) conducted among WLH in the DC area. While most WLH revealed that their usual sources of health information were through in-person group sessions, they pointed out that these were impractical options due to the coronavirus 2019 pandemic. They noted that a text-messaging intervention was feasible and acceptable. FGD participants' responses structured around the Protection Motivation Theory constructs informed the text-messaging library, covering topics such as (I) understanding of cervical cancer and HPV, (II) cervical cancer prevention and (III) HPV self-sampling. The utilization of low-cost and easily accessible health education interventions, such as mobile-based text messaging, can effectively increase knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer in populations that have been historically difficult to access and during times when health services are disrupted such as during a global pandemic or public health emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Morbidity and mortality from smoking-related diseases among people living with HIV (PLWH) in the U.S. surpasses that due to HIV itself. Conventional smoking cessation treatments have not demonstrated strong efficacy among PLWH. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate a tailored smoking cessation intervention based on the minority stress model. We compared standard of care counseling (SOC) to a tailored intervention (TI) including one face-to-face counseling session incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy to build resilience, and 30 days of 2-way text messaging. Results: The primary outcome was smoking cessation. Secondary outcomes included cigarettes per day (CPD), exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), and cessation self-efficacy. A total of 25 participants were enrolled (TI:11, SOC:14), and 2 were lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences in quit rates between study groups. However, there was a significantly greater decrease in CPD in the TI versus SOC (13.5 vs. 0.0, p-value:0.036). Additionally, self-efficacy increased in both groups (TI p-value:0.012, SOC p-value:0.049) and CO decreased in both groups (TI p-value: < 0.001, SOC p-value:0.049). This intervention shows promise to support smoking cessation among PLWH. A larger study is needed to fully evaluate the efficacy of this approach. Clinical trial: Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered (10/20/2020) NCT04594109. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to analyze cessation text-messages written by pregnant smokers to elucidate the target population’s preferred content and message attributes. To achieve this goal, the objectives of this study are three-fold; to qualitatively code messages written by pregnant smokers for frame, type of appeal, and intended target.Methods: Study participants were recruited as part of a larger trial of pregnant smokers who were enrolled in a text-messaging program or control group and surveyed 1 month post-enrollment. Each participant was asked to write a brief message to another pregnant smoker and two independent coders qualitatively analyzed responses.Results: User generated messages (N = 51) were equally loss and gain framed, and the most common appeals were: fear, guilt, cognitive, hope and empathy, in order of most to least frequent. The target of the majority of the messages was the baby.Conclusions for Practice: Allowing pregnant smokers to write cessation text-messages for other pregnant women can provide relevant insight into intervention content. Specifically, pregnant smokers appear to equally promote gain and loss frames, but may prefer messages that include components of fear and guilt related to the impact of smoking on their baby. Additional research is needed to systematically uncover perspectives of pregnant smokers to ensure interventions are optimally effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]