2024
High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine
Ottesen T, Wickersham J, Lawrence J, Antoniak S, Zezuilin O, Polonsky M, Antonyak S, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Pykalo I, Filippovych M, Altice F. High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0305086. PMID: 39028735, PMCID: PMC11259278, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapy prescriptionAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countSubstance use disordersIncreased levels of stigmaNational sampleLevel of stigmaIndependent of risk groupSuboptimal antiretroviral therapyInitiate antiretroviral therapyPopulation of peopleHIV expertsHIV incidenceHIV physiciansHIV treatmentKey populationsTransgender womenAntiretroviral treatmentFeeling thermometerDrinking alcoholSex workersPhysiciansSex partnersPWHRisk groups
2022
Ethical Issues in the Use of Smartphone Apps for HIV Prevention in Malaysia: Focus Group Study With Men Who Have Sex With Men
Khati A, Wickersham J, Rosen A, Luces J, Copenhaver N, Jeri-Wahrhaftig A, Halim M, Azwa I, Gautam K, Ooi K, Shrestha R. Ethical Issues in the Use of Smartphone Apps for HIV Prevention in Malaysia: Focus Group Study With Men Who Have Sex With Men. JMIR Formative Research 2022, 6: e42939. PMID: 36563046, PMCID: PMC9823573, DOI: 10.2196/42939.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV prevention programsHIV preventionPrevention programsHIV prevention cascadeMobile health platformMalaysian MSMPrevention cascadeImplementation of appsKey populationsFocus group studyInformed consentDedoose softwareGroup studySmartphone appMSMPreventionHealth informationPersonal health informationHealth platformMenUnintended harmFocus group discussionsSexEthical concernsEquitable access“I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle”:
Earnshaw V, Cox J, Wong P, Saifi R, Walters S, Azwa I, Omar S, Collier Z, Hassan A, Lim S, Wickersham J, Haddad M, Kamarulzaman A. “I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle”:. AIDS And Behavior 2022, 27: 2103-2112. PMID: 36472685, PMCID: PMC9734400, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03942-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcceptability and Feasibility of Online, Asynchronous Photovoice with Key Populations and People Living with HIV
Earnshaw V, Cox J, Wong P, Saifi R, Walters S, Azwa I, Omar S, Collier Z, Hassan A, Lim S, Wickersham J, Haddad M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Acceptability and Feasibility of Online, Asynchronous Photovoice with Key Populations and People Living with HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2022, 27: 2055-2069. PMID: 36463390, PMCID: PMC9734619, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03938-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFormative Evaluation of the Acceptance of HIV Prevention Artificial Intelligence Chatbots By Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Focus Group Study
Peng ML, Wickersham JA, Altice FL, Shrestha R, Azwa I, Zhou X, Halim MAA, Ikhtiaruddin WM, Tee V, Kamarulzaman A, Ni Z. Formative Evaluation of the Acceptance of HIV Prevention Artificial Intelligence Chatbots By Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Focus Group Study. JMIR Formative Research 2022, 6: e42055. PMID: 36201390, PMCID: PMC9585446, DOI: 10.2196/42055.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV testingMobile health interventionsMobile health strategiesHealth care professionalsStigmatized health conditionsElevated riskHealth strategiesCare professionalsKey populationsHealth interventionsDigital health toolsFocus group studyHealth awarenessHIVHealth toolsHealth conditionsPervasive stigmaGroup studyPreventionImplementation strategiesPotential implementation strategiesSexual behaviorMenPublic healthTechnical errorsPerspectives on Ethical Issues Around the Use of Smartphone Apps for HIV Prevention in Malaysia: Focus Group Study With Men Who Have Sex With Men
Khati A, Shrestha R, Rosen A, Luces J, Wickersham J, Azwa I, Halim M. Perspectives on Ethical Issues Around the Use of Smartphone Apps for HIV Prevention in Malaysia: Focus Group Study With Men Who Have Sex With Men. Iproceedings 2022, 8: e39372. DOI: 10.2196/39372.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV prevention effortsHIV prevention programsHIV preventionMalaysian MSMPrevention effortsPrevention programsHIV prevention cascadePrevention cascadeImplementation of appsKey populationsFocus group studyMSMDedoose softwareGroup studySmartphone appPreventionMenOnline focus group discussionsFocus group discussionsApp useSexRiskParticipantsConfidentiality concernsEthical concernsMobile Technology Use and Acceptability of mHealth for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia
Maviglia F, Shrestha R, Altice F, DiDomizio L, Khati A, Mistler C, Azwa I, Kamarulzaman A, Halim M, Wickersham J. Mobile Technology Use and Acceptability of mHealth for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia. Iproceedings 2022, 8: e39303. DOI: 10.2196/39303.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcceptability of mHealthHIV preventionMalaysian MSMHIV risk-related behaviorsHIV prevention needsHIV prevention servicesHIV prevention informationHIV prevention effortsCross-sectional surveyRespondent-driven samplingHealth-related informationSuboptimal engagementPrevention needsDearth of evidencePrevention servicesMHealth interventionsDrug useKey populationsMHealth strategiesRisk-related behaviorsDrug cravingPrevention informationPrevention effortsParticipant demographicsPreventionCOVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Associated Factors among People with HIV in the United States: Findings from a National Survey
Shrestha R, Meyer JP, Shenoi S, Khati A, Altice FL, Mistler C, Aoun-Barakat L, Virata M, Olivares M, Wickersham JA. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Associated Factors among People with HIV in the United States: Findings from a National Survey. Vaccines 2022, 10: 424. PMID: 35335054, PMCID: PMC8949562, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10030424.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancyVaccine hesitancySevere COVID-19 diseaseMean timeSample of PWHCells/mm3COVID-19 historyVaccine-related concernsGreater vaccine hesitancyCOVID-19 vaccineCOVID-19COVID-19 diseaseLower vaccine hesitancyCross-sectional online surveyCD4 countAssociated FactorsSide effectsHIVKey populationsPWHMultivariate linear regressionVaccineCOVID-19 epidemicHesitancyMost participants
2021
Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns Related to the Use of mHealth Apps for HIV Prevention Efforts Among Malaysian Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-sectional Survey Study
Shrestha R, Fisher C, Wickersham JA, Khati A, Kim R, Azwa I, Mistler C, Goldsamt L. Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns Related to the Use of mHealth Apps for HIV Prevention Efforts Among Malaysian Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-sectional Survey Study. JMIR Formative Research 2021, 5: e28311. PMID: 34924355, PMCID: PMC8726055, DOI: 10.2196/28311.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV prevention programsHIV prevention effortsPrevention programsApp-based programMalaysian MSMPrevention effortsMultivariable logistic regression modelHIV prevention cascadeSexual health questionsCross-sectional survey studyLogistic regression modelsCorrelates of willingnessConfidentiality concernsPrevention cascadeImplementation of appsKey populationsMultivariate analysisWeb-based surveyHealth questionsClinical interactionsMHealth platformMSME-prescriptionsMHealth appsMenHIV care continuum among cisgender and transgender women sex workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ranjit YS, Gibson BA, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Azwa I, Wickersham JA. HIV care continuum among cisgender and transgender women sex workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AIDS Care 2021, 35: 784-790. PMID: 34723714, PMCID: PMC9056582, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1995839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransgender women sex workersHIV care continuumAntiretroviral treatmentSex workersCare continuumWomen sex workersTransgender womenImportant key populationProportion of womenRespondent-driven sampling studyEvidence-based strategiesAntiretroviral therapyHIV careHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicHIVKey populationsWomenKuala LumpurCisgender womenCount testUnique needsSmall proportionTherapyPopulation
2020
Willingness to Use HIV Self-Testing and Associated Factors Among Transgender Women in Malaysia
Shrestha R, Galka JM, Azwa I, Lim SH, Guadamuz TE, Altice FL, Wickersham JA. Willingness to Use HIV Self-Testing and Associated Factors Among Transgender Women in Malaysia. Transgender Health 2020, 5: 182-190. PMID: 32923668, PMCID: PMC7480722, DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2019.0085.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTransgender womenSex work clientsKey populationsMultivariable logistic regressionImplementation of HIVHIV Self-TestingCurrent depressive symptomsCross-sectional surveyCorrelates of willingnessHIV screeningHIV infectionMultivariable analysisAssociated FactorsDirect referralCondomless sexHigh riskDepressive symptomsHIVSTLogistic regressionCommunity-based organizationsWomenAdditional researchStaff membersParticipantsSelf-Testing
2017
Physician Decisions to Defer Antiretroviral Therapy in Key Populations: Implications for Reducing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Incidence and Mortality in Malaysia
Ferro EG, Culbert GJ, Wickersham JA, Marcus R, Steffen AD, Pauls HA, Westergaard RP, Lee CK, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Physician Decisions to Defer Antiretroviral Therapy in Key Populations: Implications for Reducing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Incidence and Mortality in Malaysia. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2017, 4: ofw219. PMID: 28480230, PMCID: PMC5414088, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofw219.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman immunodeficiency virusT-cell countsAdvanced human immunodeficiency virusAntiretroviral therapyKey risk populationsKey populationsRisk populationsEvidence-based treatment guidelinesHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidenceClinician-level interventionsHypothetical clinical scenariosProportion of physiciansHigher CD4HIV patientsPhysician adherenceControl patientsTreatment guidelinesHIV incidenceImmunodeficiency virusART accessART coverageInternet-based surveyPhysicians' attitudesPrevention strategiesClinical scenarios