Improving Antiretroviral Medication Adherence Among HIV-infected Youth

HIV is increasing among adolescents and young adults in the US. Antiretroviral medications, when taken correctly (≥ 90% of prescribed doses taken), can vastly improve life expectancy. However, adherence among HIV-infected young people is suboptimal, and few interventions are available to help adolescents adhere to treatment. The study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) pilot trial of Positive STEPS (the adapted form of the Life-Steps behavioral intervention) to improve medication adherence among HIV-infected youth. The study will allow us to demonstrate participant acceptance, ability to recruit, feasibility of intervention delivery with study counselors and all study procedures, and initial clinically significant improvement in medication adherence via MEMS caps. This research will lay the groundwork for a federal grant application for a multi-site randomized controlled intervention trial.