Positive Peers App for HIV
(PoPIT Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
+5 other locations
Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: MetroHealth Medical Center
Disqualifiers: Prior use of Positive Peers
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the Positive Peers mobile app intervention increases rates of viral suppression in young (13-34 y/o) persons with HIV.
Does use of the Positive Peers app improve viral suppression among young minority persons with HIV? What user characteristics are associated with a) viral suppression, b) retention in care, and c) perceived HIV-related stigma?
Participants will:
* download the mobile app onto their personal smartphone
* Use the mobile app as they find useful
* complete online surveys at enrollment, 3 mo, 6, mo, 9 mo and 12 months.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the Positive Peers treatment for HIV?
Research shows that the Positive Peers app helps young people with HIV by providing a supportive community, reducing stigma, and improving engagement in care, which can lead to better health outcomes like viral suppression.
12345Is the Positive Peers App safe for use in humans?
The available research on the Positive Peers App does not report any safety concerns, suggesting it is generally safe for use in humans.
12678How is the Positive Peers App treatment different from other HIV treatments?
The Positive Peers App is unique because it provides a virtual community for young people living with HIV, helping to reduce stigma and improve clinical outcomes by offering peer support and engagement in care, unlike traditional medical treatments that focus solely on medication.
12379Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for young people aged 13-34 with HIV, particularly from minority groups. Participants need to have a personal smartphone to download and use the Positive Peers mobile app and be willing to complete online surveys over a year at specified intervals.Inclusion Criteria
HIV+
I identify as part of a minority group.
One of the following: Newly diagnosed within the last 12 months, Out of care (Not seen in the last 12 months), Not virally suppressed (viral load > 200 copies in the last 12 months), Has a working smartphone, Functional English ability
Exclusion Criteria
Prior use of Positive Peers mobile app
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Enrollment and Baseline
Participants complete a baseline survey and download the Positive Peers app
1 week
1 visit (in-person or virtual)
Immediate Start Intervention
Participants in the immediate start arm begin using the Positive Peers app
12 months
Online surveys at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
Delayed Start Intervention
Participants in the delayed start arm begin using the Positive Peers app after a 6-month delay
12 months
Online surveys at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for viral suppression and retention in care
18 months
Participant Groups
The study is testing whether the Positive Peers mobile app can help increase rates of viral suppression in participants. It also aims to identify user characteristics linked with better health outcomes, retention in care, and reduced perceived stigma related to HIV.
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Immediate StartExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in the immediate start arm will download and begin use of the Positive Peers app at the enrollment visit.
Group II: Observational CohortActive Control1 Intervention
Participants in the observational cohort have declined participation in the clinical trial but agree to do the baseline survey and have medical outcomes data recorded.
Group III: Delayed StartActive Control1 Intervention
Participants in the delayed start arm will download and begin use of the Positive Peers app 6 months after enrollment
Positive Peers is already approved in United States for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Positive Peers for:
- Support for HIV care and management among young adults (13-34 years old)
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Northeast Valley Health CorporationVan Nuys, CA
Equitas HealthCincinnati, OH
Equitas HealthColumbus, OH
UW Madison Clinic at HarborviewSeattle, WA
More Trial Locations
Loading ...
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
MetroHealth Medical CenterLead Sponsor
Kent State UniversityCollaborator
References
Using the Positive Peers Mobile App to Improve Clinical Outcomes for Young People With HIV: Prospective Observational Cohort Comparison. [2023]Disparities in HIV outcomes persist among racial, gender, and sexual minorities in the United States. Younger people face a greater risk of contracting HIV, often living without knowledge of their HIV status for long periods. The Positive Peers App (PPA) is a multifunctional HIV support tool designed to improve HIV-related clinical outcomes for young people with HIV. The app was designed according to the specifications of an in-care young adult HIV community in Northeast Ohio. Data provided in this study provide preliminary evidence of the usefulness of PPA as a relevant tool for engaging this clinical patient population in care and facilitating viral suppression.
Positive Peers Mobile Application Reduces Stigma Perception Among Young People Living With HIV. [2023]Background. The burden of HIV-related stigma is associated with disparities in linkage to HIV care and viral suppression. The Positive Peers smartphone application aims to provide young people living with HIV with a supportive virtual community to counteract perceived stigma and better manage their illness. Method. A mixed-methods study that included a prospective survey and in-depth interviewing was conducted with young adults living with HIV, aged 13 to 34 years (n = 128). As part of a larger study, participants used the Positive Peers mobile application and reported demographic data, perceived stigma, and other psychosocial variables at enrollment, 6 months, and 12 months (n = 128). Select participants (n = 15) described their experiences in audio-recorded qualitative interviews. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed for potential themes and patterns. Results. A longitudinal multivariate model was developed to assess changes in stigma over the study period, overall, and with respect to participant characteristics. Baseline and 6-month stigma scores were higher for White and Other ethnicity persons relative to Black participants. At the 12-month time point, no statistical differences in stigma scores based on ethnicity were apparent. Interviews revealed Positive Peers as a nondiscriminatory community that offered a sense of belonging that appeared to have a restorative effect on negative self-image. Conclusions. Positive Peers provides a protected virtual space where young people living with HIV can converge in the common desire to support similar others. Mobile health applications that offer peer interaction may provide a persistent sense of belonging that neutralizes internalized stigmas in addition to benefits derived from application activity.
Social Support in a Virtual Community: Analysis of a Clinic-Affiliated Online Support Group for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. [2018]Social support can improve outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH) and could be provided through online support groups. The Positive Links smartphone app is a multicomponent intervention that allows users to interact in a clinic-affiliated anonymous online support group. We investigated how social support was exchanged in a group of 55 participants over 8 months, using an adaptation of the Social Support Behavior Code. Participant interviews assessed their experiences and perceptions of the app. Of 840 posts analyzed, 115 (14 %) were coded as eliciting social support and 433 (52 %) as providing social support. Messages providing support were predominantly emotional (41 %), followed by network (27 %), esteem (24 %), informational (18 %), and instrumental (2 %) support. Participants perceived connection and support as key benefits of the app. Technical issues and interpersonal barriers limited some participants in fully using the app. Mobile technology offers a useful tool to reach populations with barriers to in-person support and may improve care for PLWH.
PositiveLinks: A Mobile Health Intervention for Retention in HIV Care and Clinical Outcomes with 12-Month Follow-Up. [2019]Mobile health interventions may help People Living with HIV (PLWH) improve engagement in care. We designed and piloted PositiveLinks, a clinic-affiliated mobile intervention for PLWH, and assessed longitudinal impact on retention in care and viral suppression. The program was based at an academic Ryan White Clinic serving a nonurban population in Central Virginia. The PL intervention included a smartphone app that connected participants to clinic staff and provided educational resources, daily queries of stress, mood and medication adherence, weekly quizzes, appointment reminders, and a virtual support group. Outcomes were analyzed using McNemar's tests for HRSA-1, visit constancy, and viral suppression and nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for CD4 counts and viral loads. Of 77 participants, 63% were male, 49% black non-Hispanic, and 72% below the federal poverty level. Participants' achievement of a retention in care benchmark (HRSA-1) increased from 51% at baseline to 88% at 6 months (p
Toward understanding the impact of mHealth features for people with HIV: a latent class analysis of PositiveLinks usage. [2022]PositiveLinks (PL) is a multi-feature smartphone-based platform to improve engagement-in-care and viral suppression (VS) among clinic patients living with HIV. Features include medication reminders, mood/stress check-ins, a community board, and secure provider messaging. Our goal was to examine how PL users interact with the app and determine whether usage patterns correlate with clinical outcomes. Patients (N = 83) at a university-based Ryan White clinic enrolled in PL from June 2016 to March 2017 and were followed for up to 12 months. A subset (N = 49) completed interviews after 3 weeks of enrollment to explore their experiences with and opinions of PL. We differentiated PL members based on 6-month usage of app features using latent class analysis. We explored characteristics associated with class membership, compared reported needs and preferences by class, and examined association between class and VS. The sample of 83 PL members fell into four classes. "Maximizers" used all app features frequently (27%); "Check-in Users" tended to interact only with daily queries (22%); "Moderate All-Feature Users" used all features occasionally (33%); and "As-Needed Communicators" interacted with the app minimally (19%). VS improved or remained high among all classes after 6 months. VS remained high at 12 months among Maximizers (baseline and 12-month VS: 100%, 94%), Check-in Users (82%, 100%), and Moderate All-Feature Users (73%, 94%) but not among As-Needed Communicators (69%, 60%). This mixed-methods study identified four classes based on PL usage patterns that were distinct in characteristics and clinical outcomes. Identifying and characterizing mHealth user classes offers opportunities to tailor interventions appropriately based on patient needs and preferences as well as to provide targeted alternative support to achieve clinical goals.
Long term impact of PositiveLinks: Clinic-deployed mobile technology to improve engagement with HIV care. [2020]PositiveLinks (PL) is a smartphone-based platform designed in partnership with people living with HIV (PLWH) to improve engagement in care. PL provides daily medication reminders, check-ins about mood and stress, educational resources, a community message board, and an ability to message providers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of up to 24 months of PL use on HIV viral suppression and engagement in care and to examine whether greater PL use was associated with improved outcomes.
Use of a Mobile Health Intervention by Older Versus Younger People with HIV: Analysis of Usage, Social Support, and Network Interactions. [2023]Label="Background" NlmCategory="UNASSIGNED">People with HIV in the United States are aging, with risk for negative health outcomes from social isolation. PositiveLinks is a mobile health (mHealth) intervention that includes an anonymous Community Message Board (CMB) for peer-to-peer conversations. We investigated differences in CMB usage and social support between younger (<50 years) and older (≥50) members.
Positive Health Check intervention tool usage during a feasibility pilot in HIV primary care clinics. [2023]Positive Health Check (PHC), an interactive, web-based intervention, provides tailored behavioral health messages to support people with HIV in their HIV care. Users interact with a virtual doctor and based on responses to tailoring questions, PHC delivers relevant content modules addressing treatment initiation, medication adherence, retention in care, sexual risk reduction, mother-to-child transmission, and injection drug use. During a one-month feasibility pilot of PHC, patients in four HIV primary care clinics were invited to use PHC and tool usage metrics were collected and assessed. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize how the tool was used based on behavioral risk scenarios presented.Ninety-seven patients accessed PHC as part of the pilot, with 68 (70.1%) completing the intervention on average in 15 min. Out of 85 patients who viewed behavioral tips and commitments, 66 (77.7%) selected at least one tip to practice and 41 (48.2%) made at least one commitment to ask their provider a question. Patients spent the most time with adherence and sexual risk reduction content. The high level of tool engagement suggests that PHC was acceptable to patients regardless of length of time since diagnosis. PHC can be completed within a single visit and is a promising tool for PWH.
An Implementation Strategy to Expand Mobile Health Use in HIV Care Settings: Rapid Evaluation Study Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. [2021]Mobile health (mHealth) apps can provide support to people living with a chronic disease by offering resources for communication, self-management, and social support. PositiveLinks (PL) is a clinic-deployed mHealth app designed to improve the health of people with HIV. In a pilot study, PL users experienced considerable improvements in care engagement and viral load suppression. To promote its expansion to other HIV clinics, we developed an implementation strategy consisting of training resources and on-demand program support.