Interprofessional collaboration associated with frequency of life-saving links to HIV continuum of care services in the urban environment of Newark, New Jersey

Abstract

Background HIV continuum of care has been used as a strategy to reduce HIV transmission rates, with timely engagement in HIV testing being the first and most critical step. This study examines interprofessional-collaboration (IPC) after controlling for agency/ provider demographics, provider training and self-efficacy as a significant predictor of how frequently HIV service providers link their clients to HIV testing. Methods Multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the effects of IPC on links to HIV testing while controlling for demographic and agency information, provider training, and standardized measures of providers’ feelings, attitudes, and opinions about IPC. Cross-sectional data from 142 providers in 13 agencies offering treatment and prevention services for HIV and substance-use disorders were collected via a survey. Results Those who scored higher on the IPC scale reported significantly higher rates of linkages to HIV testing. Compared to the null model (i.e., no predictor model), the final multilevel binary logistic regression model showed a significantly improved likelihood of linkage to HIV testing by 11.4%, p. < .05. The final model correctly classified 90.2% of links to HIV testing. Providers in agencies with smaller budgets and in agencies offering substance use disorder services were more likely to link clients to HIV testing. Younger providers who received HIV training were also more likely to link clients to HIV testing. Conclusions Findings suggest IPC training as a potential strategy to improve linkages to HIV testing for clients at risk for HIV infection. Future research is recommended to identify specific areas of IPC that might have differential effects on links to HIV testing.

Cultivating resilience and hope: A qualitative study of a pilot program using patient navigators to assist men who have sex with men with retention in the HIV care continuum in Uganda

“…The HIV Care Continuum is a model that describes HIV treatment and management in five stages: Diagnosis, Linked to Care, Receiving Treatment, Retainment in Care, and Achieving Viral Suppression [1][2][3]. Some studies have used it as a tool to investigate opportunities to better operationalize HIV specific health and social services [2,3]. To retain patients within the HIV Care Continuum, some health systems have used patient navigators (PNs) as an ancillary support service [4,5].…”