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Approximately 15–40% of people living with HIV develop HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorders, HAND, despite successful antiretroviral therapy. There are no therapies to treat these disorders. HIV enters the CNS early after infection, in part by transmigration of infected monocytes. Currently, there is a major opioid epidemic in the United States. Opioid use disorder in the context of HIV infection is important because studies show that opioids exacerbate HIV‐mediated neuroinflammation that may contribute to more severe cognitive deficits. Buprenorphine is an opioid derivate commonly prescribed for opiate agonist treatment. We used the EcoHIV mouse model to study the effects of buprenorphine on cognitive impairment and to correlate these with monocyte migration into the CNS. We show that buprenorphine treatment prior to mouse EcoHIV infection prevents the development of cognitive impairment, in part, by decreased accumulation of monocytes in the brain. We propose that buprenorphine has a novel therapeutic benefit of limiting the development of neurocognitive impairment in HIV‐infected opioid abusers as well as in nonabusers, in addition to decreasing the use of harmful opioids. Buprenorphine may also be used in combination with HIV prevention strategies such as pre‐exposure prophylaxis because of its safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We assessed internal medicine residents' attitudes and clinical practices regarding opioid overdose prevention education and naloxone prescribing as a first step in developing curriculum to train residents on these topics. Methods: We adapted a previously validated questionnaire to assess residents' feelings of responsibility, confidence and clinical practice in opioid overdose prevention and naloxone prescribing. Results: Nearly all 90 residents (62% response rate) felt responsible and most felt confident in: assessing patients for risk of opioid overdose (95% and 57%, respectively), assessing patients' readiness to reduce risk of opioid overdose (95% and 73%, respectively), and advising behavior change to minimize opioid overdose risk (98% and 71%, respectively). Most felt responsible to refer patients for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment (98%), and provide overdose prevention education and prescribe naloxone (87%). Most felt confident referring patients for OUD treatment (60%), and nearly half felt confident in providing overdose prevention education and prescribing naloxone (45%). In clinical practice, over a third reported assessing patients' risk of overdose (35%), assessing patients' readiness to reduce risk of overdose (57%), and advising behavior change to minimize overdose risk (57%). Only 17% reported providing overdose prevention education and prescribing naloxone. Conclusions: Despite feeling responsible and confident in addressing opioid overdose prevention strategies, few residents report implementing these strategies in clinical care. Residency programs must not only include curricula addressing overdose risk assessment and counseling, referral to or provision of OUD treatment, but also include curricula that impact implementation of opioid overdose prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Experience of stigma towards methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) may be a barrier to the use of this treatment by people with opioid use disorder. We evaluated the factor structure, internal reliability, construct and criterion validity of a theory‐based stigma measure, the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Stigma Mechanisms Scale (MMT‐SMS) and compared this with the Substance Use Stigma Mechanism Scale (SU‐SMS). Design Surveys at the beginning and end of a prospective study together with records of drug use and treatment attendance during that study. Setting: Community methadone clinic in the Northeastern USA. Participants: Ninety‐three participants who were receiving MMT; the average daily methadone dose was 84.8 mg/day (standard deviation = 28.39 mg/day). Measurements The MMT‐SMS uses a self‐report questionnaire to assess three dimensions reflecting experiences of anticipated (nine items), enacted (nine items) and internalized stigma (seven items) specifically related to receiving MMT. Anticipated and enacted scales include three stigma source subscales (family, employers, health care workers; three items each). Responses are recorded on a five‐point Likert‐type scale, then averaged to produce the MMT‐SMS scale/subscale scores. The SU‐SMS is a self‐report questionnaire to assess experiences of anticipated, enacted and internalized stigma regarding substance use history. Both scales were administered at the final parent study visit. Other measures included were assessed in the parent study and used to assess life‐time and recent MMT (e.g. current MMT dose) and drug use experiences (e.g. past 30‐day heroin injection). Findings The MMT‐SMS demonstrated good internal reliability (α = 0.806–0.952 for components). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the seven‐factor scale structure, distinguishing between experiences of anticipated, enacted and internalized stigma, and anticipated and enacted stigma source subscales (family, employers, health care workers) [root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.076, 90% confidence interval (CI) = 0.061–0.090, P‐close = 0.003; confirmatory fit index (CFI) = 0.974; Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.971]. Construct validity helped to distinguish the MMT‐SMS from established substance use stigma constructs. Criterion validity observed associations with substance use experiences while on MMT, likely to predict future MMT success. Internalized MMT stigma was uniquely associated with daily MMT dose. Regarding criterion validity: anticipated MMT and enacted substance use stigma were associated with past 30‐day heroin injection, MMT stigma uniquely associated with opioid use behaviors while receiving MMT, and substance use stigma broadly associated with injection‐related behaviors. Conclusions: The Methadone Maintenance Treatment Stigma Mechanisms Scale appears to be a reliable measure of methadone maintenance treatment stigma with robust validity in a sample of people with opioid use disorders receiving methadone maintenance treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening for HIV in Emergency Departments (EDs) is recommended to address the problem of undiagnosed HIV. Serosurveys are an important method for estimating the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV and can provide insight into the effectiveness of an HIV screening strategy. We performed a blinded serosurvey in an ED offering non-targeted HIV screening to determine the proportion of patients with undiagnosed HIV who were diagnosed during their visit. The study was conducted in a high-volume, urban ED and included patients who had blood drawn for clinical purposes and had sufficient remnant specimen to undergo deidentified HIV testing. Among 4752 patients not previously diagnosed with HIV, 1403 (29.5%) were offered HIV screening and 543 (38.7% of those offered) consented. Overall, undiagnosed HIV was present in 12 patients (0.25%): six among those offered screening (0.4%), and six among those not offered screening (0.2%). Among those with undiagnosed HIV, two (16.7%) consented to screening and were diagnosed during their visit. Despite efforts to increase HIV screening, more than 80% of patients with undiagnosed HIV were not tested during their ED visit. Although half of those with undiagnosed HIV were missed because they were not offered screening, the yield was further diminished because a substantial proportion of patients declined screening. To avoid missed opportunities for diagnosis in the ED, strategies to further improve implementation of HIV screening and optimize rates of consent are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Among patients with chronic pain, risk of opioid use is elevated with high opioid dose or concurrent benzodiazepine use. This study examined whether these clinical factors, or sociodemographic factors of race and gender, are associated with opioid dose reduction. Design and Setting A retrospective cohort study of outpatients prescribed chronic opioid therapy between 2007 and 2012 within a large, academic health care system in Bronx, New York, using electronic medical record data. Included patients were prescribed a stable dose of chronic opioid therapy over a one-year "baseline period" and did not have cancer. Methods The primary outcome was opioid dose reduction (≥30% reduction from baseline) within two years. Multivariable logistic regression tested the associations of two clinical variables (baseline daily opioid dose and concurrent benzodiazepine prescription) and two sociodemographic variables (race/ethnicity and gender) with opioid dose reduction. Results Of 1,097 patients, 463 (42.2%) had opioid dose reduction. High opioid dose (≥100 morphine-milligram equivalents [MME]) was associated with lower odds of opioid dose reduction compared with an opioid dose <100 MME (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54–0.89). Concurrent benzodiazepine prescription was not associated with opioid dose reduction. Black (vs white) race and female (vs male) gender were associated with greater odds of opioid dose reduction (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.22–2.70; and AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.11–1.83, respectively). Conclusions Black race and female gender were associated with greater odds of opioid dose reduction, whereas clinical factors of high opioid dose and concurrent benzodiazepine prescription were not. Efforts to reduce opioid dose should target patients based on clinical factors and address potential biases in clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, undocumented African immigrants living with HIV enter care late, potentially leading to adverse individual and population health outcomes, yet little is known about the specific experiences of HIV diagnosis and linkage to care among this population. We conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with adults who were undocumented African immigrants living with HIV in New York City. Interviews explored perspectives regarding individual, social, institutional, and societal barriers and facilitators of HIV testing and linkage to care. Of 14 participants from 9 different African countries, 9 were women and the median age was 44 years (interquartile range: 42–50). Participants described fear of discovery by immigration authorities as a substantial barrier to HIV testing and linking to initial medical appointments. Actual and perceived structural barriers to both testing and care linkage included difficulty obtaining health insurance and a belief that undocumented immigrants are ineligible for any health services. Participants also expressed reluctance to be tested because of HIV-related stigma within the immigrant communities that they heavily relied on. After diagnosis, however, participants overwhelmingly described a positive role of health and social service providers in facilitating linkage to HIV care. Concerns about immigration status and HIV-related stigma are significant barriers to HIV testing and linkage to care among undocumented African immigrants. Multilevel efforts to reduce stigma and increase awareness of available services could enhance rates of HIV testing and care linkage in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustained retention in HIV medical care is a key health behavior for the long-term health of people living with HIV (PLWH). Approximately 60% of PLWH in the U.S. are poorly retained in HIV care, yet to date, the few available evidence-based retention-promoting interventions are resource and time intensive to implement. The current study describes the feasibility and acceptability of a theory-based retention-promoting intervention designed to meet the needs of a busy clinical care setting.60 Minutes for Healthreflects a low-resource single-session intervention, implemented by a health educator, to PLWH who have had a recent gap in care (≥6-months) in the past 18-months. Intervention content was informed by a situated application of the Information Motivation Behavioral Skills Model and delivered using a Motivational Interviewing-based format. The intervention uses a workbook to guide a series of activities that: (1) Identify and reduce misinformation guiding HIV care attendance. (2) Enhance motivation to maintain care via personal health goals. (3) Build skills for coping with emotional distress related to living with HIV. (4) Increase self-efficacy for navigating the logistics of maintaining care amidst competing priorities. A small feasibility pilot of this intervention protocol was conducted to assess its potential to improve retention in care and to obtain estimates for a larger-scale efficacy trial. Participants were randomized to the 60-minute intervention session (n = 8), or a theory-based time-and-attention control session focused on diet and nutrition (n = 8). Medical records were abstracted to evaluate changes in participants’ retention in care status at 12- and 24-months post-intervention. Findings suggest the intervention is both feasible and acceptable to implement with poorly retained PLWH in a clinic setting. Post-intervention a larger proportion of intervention participants were retained in care (12-months: 87.5%, 24-months: 62.5%), compared control participants (12-months: 50.0%, 24-months: 25.0%). Future work should aim to evaluate a larger-scale efficacy trial. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]