A process and impact evaluation of a peer-led HIV self-management program

Matthew B Feldman; Trang T Tran; Lisa M Boucher; Faisal Abdelqader; Amanda R Raker; Stephen J Hile

doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102175

A process and impact evaluation of a peer-led HIV self-management program

Eval Program Plann. 2023 Feb:96:102175. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102175. Epub 2022 Nov 29.

Authors

Matthew B Feldman¹, Trang T Tran², Lisa M Boucher³, Faisal Abdelqader², Amanda R Raker², Stephen J Hile²

Affiliations

¹ The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Disease Control, Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, United States. Electronic address: matthew.feldman@jevs.org.
² The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Disease Control, Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, United States.
³ School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5Z3, Canada; C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, 43 Bruyère Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5C8, Canada.

PMID: 36459775
DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102175

Abstract

There is evidence that people with HIV (PWH) receive health-related benefits from having peer support and learning self-management skills. This evaluation assessed the effect of The Positive Life Workshop (TPLW)-a 7-session peer-led HIV self-management program-on psychosocial and HIV treatment outcomes. The overall sample included 1360 PWH who completed TPLW during 3/2015-2/2019. Surveys were administered before and after the program, and three months following program completion. Analyses examined changes in outcomes from pre-test to both post-test and 3-month follow-up using non-parametric tests. Subgroup analyses were conducted for 406 participants with ≥ 1 characteristic of the priority population for TPLW (i.e., recent HIV diagnosis, not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), suboptimal ART adherence, unsuppressed viral load). In the overall sample, there were statistically significant improvements in HIV-related knowledge, social support, patient self-advocacy, and confidence in self-management between pre-test and post-test/3-month follow-up assessment. Analyses for the priority population showed significant increases from pre-test to 3-month follow-up in the proportion of participants who were ≥ 90 % adherent to ART (59-83 %, p < 0.01) and virally suppressed (42 % to 66 %, p < 0.01). The findings suggest the importance of ensuring HIV self-management interventions reach vulnerable populations of PWH who struggle with initiating and maintaining HIV-related health-promoting behaviors.

Keywords: HIV; Impact evaluation; Process evaluation; Program; Self-management.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

HIV Infections* / drug therapy
Humans
Peer Group
Program Evaluation
Self-Management*
Social Support