Developing a trauma-focused intervention for older adults living with HIV

University Of South Carolina At Columbia, Columbia SC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Abstract The PI’s long-term goal is to develop trauma-focused interventions that will improve mental health, HIV care outcomes along the treatment cascade, and overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for older populations living with HIV. Her short-term career goals were to: 1) Acquire knowledge about the main facets of trauma- focused intervention development addressing childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among older adults living with HIV; 2) Attain additional training in mixed-methods research and apply to formative work for intervention development; 3) Learn more about HIV and aging, and application of gerontological theories to research; 4) Learn more about the syndemic of CSA and HIV; and 5) Obtain additional training in longitudinal data analysis for clinical trials such as mixed-effect modeling and longitudinal mediational analysis. As an epidemiologist, the PI has a strong background in advanced epidemiologic research methods, and has experience in doing research among populations living with HIV. Nevertheless, to become an independent researcher in interventions for older people living with HIV, she required additional training, which can be obtained through the K01 award. As a result, the PI has received training from mentors, workshops, and didactic learning in the above-mentioned areas. The current study had three phases: Phase I (qualitative); Phase II (quantitative); and Phase III (pilot intervention). The PI conducted a qualitative study to explore the perceptions of aging with HIV within the context of a history of CSA; and a quantitative study to assess the relationship between CSA, mediators such as adaptive coping, substance use, depressive symptoms, and outcomes such as ART adherence. We have completed Phases I and II and are currently in Phase III. Phases II and III were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project aligns well with the NIMH HIV/AIDS priorities (NOT-OD-15-137), by meaningfully including HIV outcomes/endpoints and examining health and social issues within the context of living with HIV.