Mindfulness instruction for medication adherence among adolescents and young adults living with HIV: a randomized controlled trial

Authors

Erica M. Sibinga, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Lindsey Webb, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jamie Perin, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Vicki Tepper, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Deanna Kerrigan, Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA.
Suzanne Grieb, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Julie Denison, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jonathan Ellen, Connections for Health.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Journal

AIDS care

DOI

10.1080/09540121.2022.2105796

Keywords

Adolescents; HIV; MBSR; adherence; mindfulness; youth

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 ( = 0.001) and decreased HIV VL ( = 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.

APA Citation

Sibinga, Erica M.; Webb, Lindsey; Perin, Jamie; Tepper, Vicki; Kerrigan, Deanna; Grieb, Suzanne; Denison, Julie; and Ellen, Jonathan, "Mindfulness instruction for medication adherence among adolescents and young adults living with HIV: a randomized controlled trial" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1533.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1533

Department

Prevention and Community Health