1. Mindfulness instruction for medication adherence among adolescents and young adults living with HIV: a randomized controlled trial.
- Author
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Sibinga EMS, Webb L, Perin J, Tepper V, Kerrigan D, Grieb S, Denison J, and Ellen J
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Young Adult, Male, Female, Humans, Adult, Stress, Psychological therapy, Medication Adherence, Educational Status, Mindfulness, HIV Infections drug therapy, HIV Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Adolescents and young adults (AYA) 13-24 years old make up a disproportionate 21% of new HIV diagnoses. Unfortunately, they are less likely to treat HIV effectively, with only 30% achieving viral suppression, limiting efforts to interrupt HIV transmission. Previous work with mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has shown promise for improving treatment in AYA living with HIV (AYALH). This randomized controlled trial compared MBSR with general health education (HT). Seventy-four 13-24-year-old AYALH conducted baseline data collection and were randomized to nine sessions of MBSR or HT. Data were collected at baseline, post-program (3 months), 6 and 12 months on mindfulness and HIV management [medication adherence (MA), HIV viral load (HIV VL), and CD4]. Longitudinal analyses were conducted. The MBSR arm reported higher mindfulness at baseline. Participants were average 20.5 years old, 92% non-Hispanic Black, 51% male, 46% female, and 3% transgender. Post-program, MBSR participants had greater increases than HT in MA ( p = 0.001) and decreased HIV VL ( p = 0.052). MBSR participants showed decreased mindfulness at follow-up. Given the significant challenges related to HIV treatment in AYALH, these findings suggest that MBSR may play a role in improving HIV MA and decreasing HIV VL. Additional research is merited to investigate MBSR further for this important population.
- Published
- 2022
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