An interventional study of Supportive-Expressive Peer Social Support Group Intervention and Individual Strengths-Based Case Management Intervention in HIV, sponsored by Medical College of Wisconsin. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-06.
Sponsored by Medical College of Wisconsin · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Engagement in HIV medical care and adherence to HIV medications are both essential in improving health outcomes among people living with HIV (PLH), but PLH living in rural areas-who suffer higher mortality rates than their urban counterparts-can confront multiple barriers to care engagement and adherence, especially as they face the logistical, medical, and social challenges associated with aging. This project will test the efficacy of two interventions to determine their impact on HIV health outcomes and quality of life among rural, older PLH living in the Southern U.S. The two interventions, adapted from evidence-based interventions and delivered remotely, are: (1) supportive-expressive peer social support groups and (2) strengths-based case management. We hypothesize that both interventions will increase viral suppression, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and health-related quality of life and decrease depressive symptoms. Results from this study will provide us with tools to improve health outcomes for rural older people living with HIV.
Medical College of Wisconsin is the lead sponsor of 540 studies on the registry; 120 are open to participants now.
Of its 71 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 56 (79%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Behavioral: Supportive-Expressive Peer Social Support Group Intervention · Behavioral: Individual Strengths-Based Case Management Intervention
Behavioral: Supportive-Expressive Peer Social Support Group Intervention
Behavioral: Individual Strengths-Based Case Management Intervention
This arm will not receive either of the interventions but will receive information on successfully aging with HIV.
The social support group intervention involves weekly virtual support group meetings for 8 consecutive weeks. The groups, facilitated by trained research staff, will last approximately 90 minutes each week and include 5-12 individuals per group. Groups will follow pre-determined topic areas, with participants encouraged to explore their feelings about the difficulties associated with normal aging, being HIV-positive, and living with HIV/AIDS as an older adult. Facilitators will encourage mutual support among group members, promote greater openness and emotional expressiveness, and help participants to improve their social and family support and enhance their quality of life. This intervention is an adaptation of Telephone Supportive-Expressive Group Therapy.
The strengths-based case management (SBCM) intervention helps participants address the multiple structural barriers faced by rural older people living with HIV. This intervention, delivered by trained research staff, includes two 60-minute telephone- or video-based SBCM counseling sessions, with shorter follow-up sessions to check-in on progress and help patients navigate identified barriers. The case manager will provide tailored sessions based on individually-identified needs and proximal life stressors. Capitalizing on participants' personal strengths, case managers will help empower participants to navigate issues related to employment, insurance, mental health, housing, or transportation. This may include assistance understanding, applying for, and accessing benefits or programs.
Viral Suppression
HIV viral load will be assessed using self-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples, with samples collecting using HemaSpot devices. Viral suppression will be defined as a measured viral load less than or equal to 839 copies/mL.
Time frame: 4 and 12 month follow-ups
Antiretroviral Treatment Medication Adherence
Recent (past 30 day) antiretroviral treatment adherence will be self-reported using the 3-item Wilson Medication Adherence Scale. The calculated scale range is 0-100, with higher scores indicating more consistent medication adherence.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Health-Related Quality of Life
Health-related quality of life will be self-reported using the 31-item World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Assessment for PLH (WHOQOL-HIV BREF). The calculated scale range is 0-100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life. Composite scores will be calculated in line with Walsh et al., 2024.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Depressive Symptoms
Depressive symptoms during the past 2 weeks will be self-reported via completion of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The calculated scale range is 0-27, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Social Support
Social support will be self-reported using the 19-item Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Scale. Scale scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating more social support.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Loneliness
Loneliness will be self-reported using the 5-item Loneliness survey from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox. Scale scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater loneliness.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Internalized HIV Stigma
Internalized HIV stigma will be self-reported using the 6-item internalized stigma subscale of the HIV Stigma Mechanisms scale. Scale scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating more internalized stigma.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
General Self-Efficacy
General self-efficacy will be self-reported using the 8-item New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Scale scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy
HIV treatment adherence self-efficacy will be self-reported using the 8-item HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (HIV-ASES). Scale scores range from 0-4, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Accessing Needed Social and Medical Services
Participants will self-report which of 12 HIV-related social and medical services they have needed during the previous 3 months, and which of these needed services they were able to obtain. A composite variable will indicate whether participants successfully accessed at least one needed service (0 = no, 1 = yes).
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Structural Barriers
Participants will self-report structural barriers they have faced in the past 3 months, with items assessing the following barriers: not having current health insurance, transportation as a barrier to health care, finances as a barrier to health care, not having enough food to eat, not having stable housing, and lacking eHealth literacy. Participants will be coded as having faced or not having faced each barrier, and barriers will be summed to indicate a score from 0-6, with higher scores indicating more structural barriers.
Time frame: 4, 8, and 12 month follow-ups
Plan to share: No
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Medical College of Wisconsin