2021
Long-term Patterns of Self-reported Opioid Use, VACS Index, and Mortality Among People with HIV Engaged in Care
Adams JW, Li Y, Barry DT, Gordon KS, Kerns RD, Oldfield BJ, Rentsch CT, Marshall BDL, Edelman EJ. Long-term Patterns of Self-reported Opioid Use, VACS Index, and Mortality Among People with HIV Engaged in Care. AIDS And Behavior 2021, 25: 2951-2962. PMID: 33569682, PMCID: PMC8442670, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03162-7.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
All-cause mortality among males living with and without HIV initiating long-term opioid therapy, and its association with opioid dose, opioid interruption and other factors
Gordon K, Manhapra A, Crystal S, Dziura J, Edelman E, Skanderson M, Kerns R, Justice A, Tate J, Becker W. All-cause mortality among males living with and without HIV initiating long-term opioid therapy, and its association with opioid dose, opioid interruption and other factors. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2020, 216: 108291. PMID: 33011662, PMCID: PMC7644145, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108291.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMorphine equivalent daily doseCause mortalityLong-term opioid therapyTime-updated Cox regressionStrong dose-response relationshipUnnatural deathsEquivalent daily doseDose-response relationshipOpioid doseOpioid therapyUninfected patientsOpioid useDaily doseCox regressionMortality outcomesTherapy doseHigh doseMale veteransOverdose fatalitiesOverdose mortalityPLWHMortalityHIVPatientsDoseAre we missing opioid-related deaths among people with HIV?
Becker WC, Gordon KS, Edelman EJ, Goulet JL, Kerns RD, Marshall BDL, Fiellin DA, Justice AC, Tate JP. Are we missing opioid-related deaths among people with HIV? Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2020, 212: 108003. PMID: 32417360, PMCID: PMC9580216, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Aging Cohort StudyOpioid useOverdose deathsLife-limiting conditionsUnnatural deathsGreater oddsAging Cohort StudyVACS IndexOpioid exposureCohort studyHIV infectionHIV statusRisk factorsOdds ratioDeath filesIndex causeHIVDisease severityDeathDecedentsIllicit useDifferential misclassificationOddsCauseOpioids
2018
A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Novel Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain Tailored to Individuals with HIV
Merlin JS, Westfall AO, Long D, Davies S, Saag M, Demonte W, Young S, Kerns RD, Bair MJ, Kertesz S, Turan JM, Kilgore M, Clay OJ, Starrels J, Pekmezi D, Johnson MO. A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Novel Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain Tailored to Individuals with HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2018, 22: 2733-2742. PMID: 29340913, PMCID: PMC6047927, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2028-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic painPilot trialBrief Pain Inventory (BPI) total scorePain self-management interventionMedian session attendanceUsual care comparisonRandomized pilot trialSelf-management interventionsNovel behavioral interventionModerate painPain severityPreliminary efficacyIntervention groupSession attendanceCare comparisonsEligibility criteriaControl groupPainInterference ScaleBehavioral interventionsTrialsHIVPreliminary evidenceFull-scale trialEfficacy
2017
Cost-effectiveness of a chronic pain intervention for people living with HIV (PLWH)
Merlin JS, Westfall AO, Johnson MO, Kerns RD, Bair MJ, Kertesz S, Turan JM, Clay OJ, Starrels JL, Kilgore M. Cost-effectiveness of a chronic pain intervention for people living with HIV (PLWH). Journal Of Medical Economics 2017, 21: 122-126. PMID: 28880698, PMCID: PMC6028014, DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2017.1377719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIncremental cost-effectiveness ratioCost/QALYChronic painPilot trialPreliminary efficacyPain self-management interventionChronic pain interventionsModerate chronic painHIV clinical settingsSelf-management interventionsCost-effectiveness ratioStandard gamble methodCostly comorbiditiesSTOMP interventionUsual carePain interventionsMean ageInclusion criteriaClinic perspectivePainClinical settingPilot studyTrialsPLWHHIVErratum to: Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV
Becker WC, Gordon K, Edelman EJ, Kerns RD, Crystal S, Dziura JD, Fiellin LE, Gordon AJ, Goulet JL, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Erratum to: Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2017, 21: 1228-1228. PMID: 28188459, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1725-6.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesHIVPatients
2016
Using Patient Perspectives to Inform the Development of a Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain in Patients with HIV: A Qualitative Study
Merlin JS, Young SR, Johnson MO, Saag M, Demonte W, Modi R, Shurbaji S, Anderson WA, Kerns R, Bair MJ, Kertesz S, Davies S, Turan JM. Using Patient Perspectives to Inform the Development of a Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain in Patients with HIV: A Qualitative Study. Pain Medicine 2016, 18: 879-888. PMID: 27425186, PMCID: PMC6279265, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnw150.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic painPatient preferencesBehavioral interventionsNonpharmacologic treatmentsHIV statusPatient's perspectivePainHIVElicit participants' preferencesIntervention contentThematic analysis approachIntervention developmentPsychosocial vulnerabilityInterventionGroup participantsPatientsGroup sessionsTarget populationFocus groupsQualitative studyPeer leadershipParticipants' preferencesIndividualsEmergent themesDelivery
2015
Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV
Becker WC, Gordon K, Jennifer Edelman E, Kerns RD, Crystal S, Dziura JD, Fiellin LE, Gordon AJ, Goulet JL, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Trends in Any and High-Dose Opioid Analgesic Receipt Among Aging Patients With and Without HIV. AIDS And Behavior 2015, 20: 679-686. PMID: 26384973, PMCID: PMC5006945, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1197-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-term Prescription of Opioids and/or Benzodiazepines and Mortality Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients
Weisberg DF, Gordon KS, Barry DT, Becker WC, Crystal S, Edelman EJ, Gaither J, Gordon AJ, Goulet J, Kerns RD, Moore BA, Tate J, Justice AC, Fiellin DA. Long-term Prescription of Opioids and/or Benzodiazepines and Mortality Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2015, 69: 223-233. PMID: 26009831, PMCID: PMC4446730, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000591.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term opioidsMorphine equivalent daily doseOpioid receiptRisk of deathLong-term prescriptionUninfected patientsOpioid dosesAntiretroviral therapyHazard ratioDaily dosePropensity scoreHigher opioid dosesCause mortalityHIV statusAvailable patientsMortality riskOpioidsHIVPatientsProspective analysisMortalityBenzodiazepinesDosesDeathRiskPain Self-Management in HIV-Infected Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study
Merlin JS, Walcott M, Kerns R, Bair MJ, Burgio KL, Turan JM. Pain Self-Management in HIV-Infected Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study. Pain Medicine 2015, 16: 706-714. PMID: 25645646, PMCID: PMC4390451, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12701.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSelf-management strategiesChronic painPain self-management strategiesPain Self-ManagementNegative health consequencesPain managementPain outcomesPhysical activityPainHIVHealth consequencesBehavioral interventionsSubstance useSelf-ManagementSocial supportInterventionQualitative studyThematic analysisIndividualsEssential first stepSpiritual strategies