title: The effect of conspiracy beliefs and trust on HIV diagnosis, linkage, and retention in young MSM with HIV.
abstract: Conspiracy beliefs about HIV may result in delayed diagnosis, medication non-adherence, and low retention in care. The impact of such beliefs is not well described for minority youth. We assessed conspiracy beliefs, trust in physicians, and trust in the health care system in 47 HIV-infected, minority, adolescent men who have sex with men (MSM). We identified correlations of these factors with two intermediate outcomes (general self-efficacy and medication attitudes) and with three clinical outcomes (CD4 cell count at diagnosis, linkage to care, and retention in care). Greater conspiracy beliefs were associated with negative medication attitudes (r=-0.37, p=.01), while trust in physicians was correlated with positive medication attitudes (r=0.42, p=.003). Neither conspiracy beliefs nor trust was correlated with self-efficacy, nor were they correlated with any of the three clinical outcomes. Conspiracy beliefs and lack of trust did not predict delayed diagnosis or poor linkage and retention in this population of young, minority MSM.
authors: Department of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Gillman
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Davila
authors: Shubhada
authors: S
authors: Sansgiry
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Parkinson-Windross
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Miertschin
authors: Beau
authors: B
authors: Mitts
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Henley
authors: Thomas P
authors: TP
authors: Giordano
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents