2024
User preferences for an mHealth app to support HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among men who have sex with men in Malaysia
Palmer L, Wickersham J, Gautam K, Maviglia F, Bruno B, Azwa I, Khati A, Altice F, Paudel K, Pagoto S, Shrestha R. User preferences for an mHealth app to support HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among men who have sex with men in Malaysia. PLOS Digital Health 2024, 3: e0000643. PMID: 39475851, PMCID: PMC11524455, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000643.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV prevention servicesHIV testingPreventive servicesPre-exposure prophylaxis uptakeHIV prevention appIncrease HIV testingMobile appsPrevalence of HIVHard-to-reach populationsStudy assessed attitudesOnline focus groupsMalaysian MSMCost of servicesPrEP uptakeDedoose softwareMHealth appsPrevention appsFocus groupsIntervention modalitiesMSMEngagement strategiesHIVConfidentiality risksThematic contentMenTesting the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Study.
Cheah M, Gan Y, Altice F, Wickersham J, Shrestha R, Salleh N, Ng K, Azwa I, Balakrishnan V, Kamarulzaman A, Ni Z. Testing the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Human Factors 2024, 11: e52055. PMID: 38277206, PMCID: PMC10858413, DOI: 10.2196/52055.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUptake of HIV testingHIV testingPre-exposure prophylaxisUnified Theory of AcceptanceFrequency of HIV testingTheory of AcceptanceAI chatbotsPromote HIV testingMental health supportHIV risk assessmentHIV prevention effortsHIV-related informationMixed methods studyPresence of stigmaUse of TechnologyConsequences of HIVEffort expectancySexually transmitted infectionsWeb-based surveyEngaging MSMArtificial intelligenceTranscribed verbatimPrEP uptakeHealth supportMental health
2023
Clinic-Integrated Smartphone App (JomPrEP) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Usability and Acceptability
Shrestha R, Altice F, Khati A, Azwa I, Gautam K, Gupta S, Sullivan P, Ni Z, Kamarulzaman A, Phiphatkunarnon P, Wickersham J. Clinic-Integrated Smartphone App (JomPrEP) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Usability and Acceptability. JMIR MHealth And UHealth 2023, 11: e44468. PMID: 36795465, PMCID: PMC9982718, DOI: 10.2196/44468.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV prevention servicesINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERPrevention servicesMean ageHIV preventionPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV prevention outcomesHIV self-testing (HIVST) kitsParticipants' mean ageSelf-testing kitsHealth care settingsMobile health platformMalaysian MSMMixed-methods evaluationHIV testingCare settingsLocal clinicSystem Usability ScalePrevention outcomesDays of testingMSMSmartphone appPrEPHIVMean scoreHigh Interest in Long-acting Injectable Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM): Result From A Nationwide Survey in Malaysia
Paudel K, Gupta S, Gautam K, Wickersham J, Khati A, Azwa I, Ha T, Shrestha R. High Interest in Long-acting Injectable Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM): Result From A Nationwide Survey in Malaysia. Journal Of Community Health 2023, 48: 513-521. PMID: 36732459, PMCID: PMC10200758, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-023-01195-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLAI-PrEPHIV preventionInjectable pre-exposure prophylaxisLong-term side effectsPre-exposure prophylaxisOnline cross-sectional surveyCross-sectional surveyInjectable cabotegravirInjectable PrEPMalaysian MSMPrEP modalitiesOral PrEPHIV testingMiddle-income countriesOral pillsPrior historySide effectsRecent approvalPrEP optionsStudy participantsMSMPrEPNationwide surveyConvenience samplingNationwide sample
2022
Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (“JomPrEP” App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial
Shrestha R, Wickersham J, Khati A, Azwa I, Ni Z, Kamarulzaman A, Sullivan P, Jadkarim L, Eger W, Gautam K, Altice F. Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (“JomPrEP” App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial. JMIR Research Protocols 2022, 11: e43318. PMID: 36542425, PMCID: PMC9813821, DOI: 10.2196/43318.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV prevention servicesHIV testingMalaysian MSMPhase IHIV preventionPrevention servicesLarge-scale efficacy trialsHIV prevention resourcesMobile health interventionsHIV prevention effortsCare delivery servicesHealth care delivery servicesMultiphase trialPrEP servicesMiddle-income countriesHIV epidemicEfficacy trialsTrial designPrevention strategiesEntrenched stigmaHealth outcomesReal-world settingHealth interventionsFormative 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 errors
2021
The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to HIV Prevention Services Among Opioid-Dependent Individuals
Mistler CB, Curley CM, Rosen AO, El-Krab R, Wickersham JA, Copenhaver MM, Khati A, Shrestha R. The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to HIV Prevention Services Among Opioid-Dependent Individuals. Journal Of Community Health 2021, 46: 960-966. PMID: 33770334, PMCID: PMC7996112, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-021-00979-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderHIV prevention servicesSTI testingHIV counselorsPrEP prescriptionPrevention servicesCOVID-19Pre-exposure prophylaxis servicesOpioid use disorder treatmentCOVID-19 pandemicClean injection equipmentOpioid-dependent individualsOpioid-dependent peopleUse disorder treatmentInjection equipmentHIV testingInfection testingBlood testingHIV preventionUse disordersPWIDDisorder treatmentDoctor's appointmentAdverse effectsCase managersWillingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment
Ni Z, Altice FL, Wickersham JA, Copenhaver MM, DiDomizio EE, Nelson LE, Shrestha R. Willingness to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its use among opioid-dependent individuals in drug treatment. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 219: 108477. PMID: 33422864, PMCID: PMC7946167, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108477.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid-dependent individualsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP useHIV riskHealthcare providersSex-related risk behaviorsMultivariable logistic regression analysisAwareness of PrEPUrban methadone clinicMultiple logistic regressionDisproportionate HIV burdenLogistic regression analysisCross-sectional surveyHIV burdenHIV infectionHIV testingIndependent correlatesMethadone clinicsDrug treatmentRisk behaviorsLogistic regressionPrEPPrevious useHigher likelihoodProphylaxis
2019
Use of Smartphone to Seek Sexual Health Information Online Among Malaysian Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): Implications for mHealth Intervention to Increase HIV Testing and Reduce HIV Risks
Shrestha R, Lim SH, Altice FL, Copenhaver M, Wickersham JA, Saifi R, Ab Halim MA, Naning H, Kamarulzaman A. Use of Smartphone to Seek Sexual Health Information Online Among Malaysian Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): Implications for mHealth Intervention to Increase HIV Testing and Reduce HIV Risks. Journal Of Community Health 2019, 45: 10-19. PMID: 31375976, PMCID: PMC6957731, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00713-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSexual health informationHIV testingHealth informationOnline sexual health informationSexual partnersRecent HIV testingHigh-risk MSMHIV/STIsHIV risk behaviorsHIV prevention activitiesCross-sectional online surveyHealth Information OnlineMalaysian MSMSTI preventionIndependent correlatesGeosocial networking appsHIV riskMHealth interventionsMHealth strategiesMHealth toolsRisk behaviorsOlder ageLogistic regressionMSMPrevention activities
2018
Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Transgender Women in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rutledge R, Morozova O, Gibson BA, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Wickersham JA. Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Transgender Women in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. LGBT Health 2018, 5: 484-493. PMID: 30481120, PMCID: PMC6306652, DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2018.0021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary care providersRecent HIV testingHIV testingTransgender womenLogistic regressionHIV/AIDS StrategyCorrelates of HIVPrevious depression diagnosisJoint United Nations ProgrammeHIV testing historyBehavioral risk factorsMultivariate logistic regressionYears of ageMental health functioningBivariate logistic regressionUnited Nations ProgrammeHIV statusHIV treatmentRisk factorsHIV epidemicDepression diagnosisAIDS StrategyAmphetamine useCare providersPrevention services
2017
Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Cisgender and Transgender Women Sex Workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Wickersham JA, Gibson BA, Bazazi AR, Pillai V, Pedersen CJ, Meyer JP, El-Bassel N, Mayer KH, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Cisgender and Transgender Women Sex Workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2017, 44: 663-670. PMID: 28708696, PMCID: PMC5636657, DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000662.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransgender women sex workersHuman immunodeficiency virusInconsistent condom useCisgender women sex workersHIV prevalenceImmunodeficiency virusSex workersWomen sex workersDrug useCondom useHigh human immunodeficiency virusGlobal HIV prevalenceLast HIV testLifetime HIV testingPooled HIV prevalenceRespondent-driven samplingSTI prevalenceHIV testHIV burdenHIV testingMedian timeSTI preventionΧ testChlamydia trachomatisIndependent sample t-test
2016
Confronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia
Culbert GJ, Pillai V, Bick J, Al-Darraji HA, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Bazazi AR, Ferro E, Copenhaver M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Confronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia. Journal Of Neuroimmune Pharmacology 2016, 11: 446-455. PMID: 27216260, PMCID: PMC5118227, DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9676-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyMalaysia's largest prisonIsoniazid preventive therapyLatent tuberculosis infectionStandardized treatment protocolMandatory HIV testingDrug treatment centersEvidence-based addiction treatmentEvidence-based interventionsLargest prisonReservoir of infectionActive diseaseActive tuberculosisPreventive therapyHIV testingTuberculosis infectionOpioid dependenceHIV treatmentRapid relapseMethadone maintenanceTreatment protocolClinical careHIVTreatment centersCompulsory drug treatment centers
2015
The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention
Loeliger KB, Marcus R, Wickersham JA, Pillai V, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention. Addictive Behaviors 2015, 53: 31-39. PMID: 26436520, PMCID: PMC4679569, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.09.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug-using womenHIV testingFuture public health interventionsSubstance useHIV risk behaviorsSyndemics of HIVThird of womenPublic health problemInfrequent condom usePoor health outcomesHarm reduction effortsSubstance use disordersPublic health interventionsCross-sectional surveyUnstable living situationsSocial supportAntiretroviral therapyHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionHIV treatmentInjection paraphernaliaDrug injectionSocial comorbiditiesPsychiatric illnessMost women
2014
Correlates of HIV infection and being unaware of HIV status among soon‐to‐be‐released Ukrainian prisoners
Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Grishaev Y, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Correlates of HIV infection and being unaware of HIV status among soon‐to‐be‐released Ukrainian prisoners. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2014, 17: 19005. PMID: 25216073, PMCID: PMC4161962, DOI: 10.7448/ias.17.1.19005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV infectionHIV testingHIV statusHIV epidemicDrug-related HIV risk behaviorsRisk-based HIV testingHIV risk behaviorsAntiretroviral therapyHIV-positiveHIV transmissionOpioid substitutionIndependent correlatesDrug injectionFemale genderHealth SurveySerological testingPrevious incarcerationRisk behaviorsDisproportionate burdenHIVInfectionEpidemicUkrainian prisonsCorrelatesStatus