2024
Testing 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
Aligning public health and public safety: Probation as a touchpoint to identify and link patients with opioid use disorder to opioid agonist treatment
Bromberg D, Galvez de Leon S, Litz T, Azbel L, Liberman A, Polonsky M, Dvoriak S, Saichuk N, Taxman F, Altice F. Aligning public health and public safety: Probation as a touchpoint to identify and link patients with opioid use disorder to opioid agonist treatment. PLOS Global Public Health 2023, 3: e0002349. PMID: 37910486, PMCID: PMC10619786, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002349.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCriminal justice settingsOpioid use disorderBrief interventionUse disordersPrevalence of OUDProbation centersHIV prevention effortsJustice settingsMental healthHigh rateCommunity supervision settingsOAT servicesSBIRT interventionAgonist therapyHIV testingOpioid dependenceAgonist treatmentConsecutive individualsTreatment strategiesGeneral populationProbationSBIRTPrevention effortsSupervision settingParticipants
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 interventionsMobile Health Technology Use and the Acceptability of an mHealth Platform for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Cross-sectional Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey
Shrestha R, Maviglia F, Altice FL, DiDomizio E, Khati A, Mistler C, Azwa I, Kamarulzaman A, Halim MAA, Wickersham JA. Mobile Health Technology Use and the Acceptability of an mHealth Platform for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Cross-sectional Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey. Journal Of Medical Internet Research 2022, 24: e36917. PMID: 35877172, PMCID: PMC9361153, DOI: 10.2196/36917.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV prevention informationHIV preventionDrug usePrevention informationMalaysian menMHealth platformHIV risk-related behaviorsHIV prevention toolHIV prevention servicesSexual activityReceptive anal sexMobile health interventionsHIV prevention effortsUse of mHealthIllicit drug useSexualized drug useCross-sectional surveyAcceptability of mHealthHealth technology useSelf-administered questionnaireRespondent-driven samplingHealth-related informationSuboptimal engagementDearth of evidencePrevention servicesMobile 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 demographicsPrevention
2020
A qualitative study of diphenhydramine injection in Kyrgyz prisons and implications for harm reduction
Meyer JP, Culbert GJ, Azbel L, Bachireddy C, Kurmanalieva A, Rhodes T, Altice FL. A qualitative study of diphenhydramine injection in Kyrgyz prisons and implications for harm reduction. Harm Reduction Journal 2020, 17: 86. PMID: 33129341, PMCID: PMC7603760, DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00435-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeedle/syringe programsMethadone maintenance therapyHIV prevention effortsMental health consequencesDiphenhydramine injectionMaintenance therapyOpioid dependenceHIV transmissionState of euphoriaSyringe programsIllicit injectionSkin infectionsMethadone utilizationStudy participantsHarmful drugsHealth consequencesMethadonePrevention effortsHarm reductionAntihistaminesInjectionFurther investigationKyrgyz prisonsVisible woundsQualitative studyAwareness about and willingness to use long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) among people who use drugs
Shrestha R, DiDomizio EE, Kim RS, Altice FL, Wickersham JA, Copenhaver MM. Awareness about and willingness to use long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) among people who use drugs. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2020, 117: 108058. PMID: 32811633, PMCID: PMC7438607, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108058.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisInjectable pre-exposure prophylaxisLAI-PrEPOral pre-exposure prophylaxisLong-term side effectsSelf-reported HIV risk behaviorsBangkok Tenofovir StudyEvidence-based HIVHigh-risk PWUDImportant key populationHIV-negative peopleOpioid use disorderHIV risk behaviorsHIV prevention effortsAddiction treatment programsDaily PrEPOral PrEPAdherence challengesIndependent correlatesFemale sexClinical trialsHIV preventionIndependent factorsSide effectsUse disorders
2018
A qualitative assessment of attitudes about and preferences for extended-release naltrexone, a new pharmacotherapy to treat opioid use disorders in Ukraine
Marcus R, Bojko MJ, Mazhnaya A, Makarenko I, Filippovych S, Dvoriak S, Altice FL, Springer SA. A qualitative assessment of attitudes about and preferences for extended-release naltrexone, a new pharmacotherapy to treat opioid use disorders in Ukraine. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2018, 86: 86-93. PMID: 29415856, PMCID: PMC5808584, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.01.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyXR-NTXExtended-release naltrexonePsychological supportOpioid use disorderHIV prevention effortsFocus groupsPerceptions of recoveryAgonist therapyOpioid withdrawalYoung PWIDOpioid antagonistPatient preferencesNew pharmacotherapiesPsychoactive medicationsInjection careerUse disordersFocus group transcriptsPWIDPrevention effortsNaltrexoneGroup transcriptsIndividual barriersTreatmentWithdrawal
2017
Developing an Integrated, Brief Biobehavioral HIV Prevention Intervention for High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment: The Process and Outcome of Formative Research
Shrestha R, Altice F, Karki P, Copenhaver M. Developing an Integrated, Brief Biobehavioral HIV Prevention Intervention for High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment: The Process and Outcome of Formative Research. Frontiers In Immunology 2017, 8: 561. PMID: 28553295, PMCID: PMC5425476, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00561.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeurocognitive impairmentHigh-risk drug usersBehavioral interventionsHigh-risk PWUDHIV prevention behavioral interventionBiobehavioral approachHIV risk reductionHIV prevention interventionsDrug treatment settingsFormative researchHIV prevention effortsTarget populationPrEP adherencePrEP uptakeRisk reduction outcomesHIV preventionDrug treatmentPrevention interventionsFocus groupsTreatment settingsDrug usersRecovery programStructured focus groupsRisk behaviorsTarget population members
2016
Examining the Acceptability of mHealth Technology in HIV Prevention Among High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment
Shrestha R, Huedo-Medina TB, Altice FL, Krishnan A, Copenhaver M. Examining the Acceptability of mHealth Technology in HIV Prevention Among High-Risk Drug Users in Treatment. AIDS And Behavior 2016, 21: 3100-3110. PMID: 28025735, PMCID: PMC5484759, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1637-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeAdultCell PhoneConnecticutDelivery of Health CareDrug UsersFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansInternetMaleMethadoneNeurocognitive DisordersOpiate Substitution TreatmentPatient Acceptance of Health CarePrevalenceRisk FactorsRisk-TakingSexual BehaviorSmartphoneSubstance Abuse, IntravenousTelemedicineText MessagingConceptsSex-related risk behaviorsNeurocognitive impairmentDrug usersRisk behaviorsHIV-negative drug usersHigh-risk drug usersHigh-risk populationHigh-risk peopleHIV prevention effortsUse of mHealthMethadone clinicsHIV preventionHigh prevalenceMedication remindersHealth programsMHealth acceptancePrevention effortsHealth conditionsMHealth technologiesConvenience sampleDrugsStandardized assessmentReal-world acceptanceMobile healthPhone calls
2015
A non-inferiority trial of an evidence-based secondary HIV prevention behavioral intervention compared to an adapted, abbreviated version: Rationale and intervention description
Shrestha R, Krishnan A, Altice FL, Copenhaver M. A non-inferiority trial of an evidence-based secondary HIV prevention behavioral intervention compared to an adapted, abbreviated version: Rationale and intervention description. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2015, 44: 95-102. PMID: 26253181, PMCID: PMC4744142, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.08.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEvidence-based interventionsHIV risk behaviorsHolistic Health Recovery ProgramSex-related HIV risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsClinical settingCurrent HIV prevention effortsReal-world clinical settingHIV prevention behavioral interventionFormal cost-effectiveness analysisAntiretroviral therapy adherenceNon-inferiority trialHIV prevention effortsAddiction treatment settingsCommon clinical settingsCost-effective relativeCost-effectiveness analysisAddiction treatment programsTherapy adherenceTarget HIVTrial designHIVIntervention DescriptionTreatment settingsUnmet need
2014
Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Carver JW, Dévieux JG, Gaston SC, Altice FL, Niccolai LM. Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. AIDS And Behavior 2014, 18: 1595-1603. PMID: 24402691, PMCID: PMC5572216, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-013-0689-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdolescent BehaviorCondomsCross-Sectional StudiesEducational StatusFamily CharacteristicsFemaleHaitiHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleRisk FactorsRisk-TakingSexual PartnersSexually Transmitted DiseasesSocial DesirabilitySocial EnvironmentSurveys and QuestionnairesConceptsSexual risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsPresent cross-sectional studyCross-sectional studyHIV prevention effortsIndependent correlatesAdult family membersYear old adolescentsHigh prevalenceLast sexUnprotected sexSexual partnersSexual debutPrevention effortsSexual intercourseProtective influenceSexual activityMultivariate modelingRisky sexSexAge 14Port-auFace interviewsAdolescentsFamily members
2011
Attitudes toward opioid substitution therapy and pre-incarceration HIV transmission behaviors among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia: Implications for secondary prevention
Bachireddy C, Bazazi AR, Kavasery R, Govindasamy S, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Attitudes toward opioid substitution therapy and pre-incarceration HIV transmission behaviors among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia: Implications for secondary prevention. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2011, 116: 151-157. PMID: 21232882, PMCID: PMC3084892, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.12.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAttitudeComorbidityHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHIV InfectionsHumansMalaysiaMaleMiddle AgedNeedle SharingOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersPrisonersPrisonsRisk-TakingSecondary PreventionSexual BehaviorSubstance Abuse, IntravenousTime FactorsUnsafe SexYoung AdultConceptsOpioid substitution therapyHIV transmission behaviorsSubstitution therapyUnprotected sexSecondary HIV prevention effortsCommunity HIV transmissionInjection of buprenorphineSecondary HIV preventionInjection drug useHIV prevention effortsSterile injection equipmentOpioid injectionSecondary preventionOpioid dependenceHIV transmissionHIV preventionMale prisonersHIV riskInjection riskDrug useHIVCareful monitoringSexual riskBehavioral interventionsPrevention efforts