title: Project nGage: Network Supported HIV Care Engagement for Younger Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Persons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young Black men who have sex with men and transgender persons (YBMSMT) aged 13-29 carry the nation's highest burden of new HIV infections. Studies indicate that YBMSMT have poor retention in care, which is associated with reduced medication adherence and increased virologic failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Project nGage is a randomized controlled (RCT) trial evaluating the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a brief, dyadic intervention designed to promote adherence to HIV primary care in safety-net clinics. Network visualization is used to identify and engage a support confidant (SC) from participants' social networks. A social work interventionist then meets with the SC and SC-participant dyad to activate and maintain HIV-specific social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Project nGage is operating in two phases. In Phase I, the Team refined study protocols based on pilot testing. In Phase II, 94 HIV infected YBMSMT ages 16-29 will be recruited, enrolled and randomly assigned to receive Project nGage or treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome is appointment attendance; the secondary outcomes are medication adherence and viral load.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Implementation challenges include coordinating sites, managing dyadic intervention logistics, and recruiting non-adherent patients or those who have fallen out of care. The team continues to address implementation issues as the study progresses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Project nGage is addressing a gap in HIV care-related research by focusing on supportive relationships as a mechanism through which to promote retention in care. Pending study results, a larger RCT would compare the relative effectiveness of the Project nGage intervention versus TAU over 18 to 24 months.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA ; STI/HIV Intervention Network, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouris
authors.affiliation: School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA ; STI/HIV Intervention Network, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Dexter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voisin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilloton
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Flatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eavou
authors.affiliation: Access Community Health Network, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Kischa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.affiliation: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kuhns
authors.affiliation: Access Community Health Network, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Milton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.affiliation: STI/HIV Intervention Network, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA ; Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schneider
keywords: Adherence; African American; HIV/AIDS; Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills model; Men who have sex with men; Network visualization; Retention in care; Social networks; Social support; Transgender persons; Transtheoretical model