Mindfulness instruction for medication adherence among adolescents and young adults living with HIV: a randomized controlled trial.
Erica M S Sibinga, Lindsey Webb, Jamie Perin, Vicki Tepper, Deanna Kerrigan, Suzanne Grieb, Julie Denison, Jonathan Ellen
AIDS Care December 2022 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2105796 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 74 |
| Population | Adolescents and young adults (AYA) 13-24 years old living with HIV (AYALH) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) general health education (HT) |
| Duration | Nine sessions; data collected at baseline, post-program (3 months), 6 and 12 months |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Adolescents Hiv Adherence Youth |
| Key findings | Post-program, MBSR participants had greater increases in medication adherence (p = 0.001) and decreased HIV viral load (p = 0.052) compared with health education. MBSR participants showed decreased mindfulness at follow-up. The authors suggest MBSR may play a role in improving HIV medication adherence and decreasing HIV viral load in this population. |
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.