CSDE Affiliate, Joseph Delaney (Epidemiology) co-authored two studies this fall. The first study is published in Plos One, “Assessing the associations between known genetic variants and substance use in people with HIV in the United States“, where authors sought to assess if previously identified genetic associations that contribute to substance use are also observed in a population of people with HIV (PWH). The prevalence of substance use in PWH in the United States is higher than in the general population and is an important driver of HIV-related outcomes. Their analyses contribute to understanding the genetic bases of substance use in a population with relatively higher rates of use compared to the general population. The second article is published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, “Developing a prediction model of children asthma risk using population-based family history health records“. Identifying children at high risk of developing asthma can facilitate prevention and early management strategies. Authors developed a prediction model of children’s asthma risk using objectively collected population-based children and parental histories of comorbidities. Their analysis finds that Including children and parental comorbidities to children’s asthma prediction models improves their accuracy.

 

CSDE Affiliate Jane Simoni (Pyschology) and co-authors published their research in JMIR Formative Research, “Enhancing Mental Health and Medication Adherence Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Recently Diagnosed With HIV With a Dialectical Behavior Therapy–Informed Intervention Incorporating mHealth, Online Skills Training, and Phone Coaching: Development Study Using Human-Centered Design Approach“. Mental health problems are common among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV and may negatively affect medication adherence. Psychosocial interventions designed to address these urgent needs are scarce in China. Incorporating behavioral health theories into intervention development strengthens the effectiveness of these interventions. The absence of a robust theoretical basis for interventions may also present challenges to identify active intervention ingredients.

This study aims to systematically describe the development of a mobile health–based intervention for MSM recently diagnosed with HIV in China, including the theoretical basis for the content and the considerations for its technological delivery. Authors used intervention mapping (IM) to guide overall intervention development, a behavioral intervention technology model for technological delivery design, and a human-centered design and cultural adaptation model for intervention tailoring throughout all steps of IM. The dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)–informed intervention, Turning to Sunshine, comprised 3 components: app-based individual skills learning, group-based skills training, and on-demand phone coaching. The theoretical basis for the intervention content is based on the DBT model of emotions, which fits our conceptualization of the intervention user’s mental health needs. The intervention aims to help MSM recently diagnosed with HIV (1) survive moments of high emotional intensity and strong action urges, (2) change emotional expression to regulate emotions, and (3) reduce emotional vulnerability, as well as (4) augment community resources for mental health services. Technological delivery considerations included rationale of the medium, complexity, and esthetics of information delivery; data logs; data visualization; notifications; and passive data collection.

This study laid out the steps for the development of a DBT-informed mobile health intervention that integrated app-based individual learning, group-based skills training, and phone coaching. This intervention, Turning to Sunshine, aims to improve mental health outcomes for MSM newly diagnosed with HIV in China. The IM framework informed by human-centered design principles and cultural adaptation considerations offered a systematic approach to develop the current intervention and tailor it to the target intervention users. The behavioral intervention technology model facilitated the translation of behavioral intervention strategies into technological delivery components. The systematic development and reporting of the current intervention can serve as a guide for similar intervention studies. The content of the current intervention could be adapted for a broader population with similar emotional struggles to improve their mental health outcomes.

CSDE Affiliate Emily Williams (Health Systems and Population Health) and co-authors published their research in Annals of Internal Medicine, titled “Does Screening for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care Increase the Percentage of Patients With a New Diagnosis?“. Integrating care for common mental health disorders into primary care through screening and treatment has proved to be highly effective and is now a widespread practice. Primary care may also be an ideal setting to offer treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), as primary care providers make up the bulk of buprenorphine prescribers (1). However, substance use disorders often go unrecognized in primary care. Screening may be an effective approach to increase identification of OUD, as it is for depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder (2, 3). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for substance use in primary care settings if effective treatments are available. Authors’ study aims to compare the percentage of primary care patients who are newly diagnosed with OUD before and after implementation of universal screening for OUD.