title: Linking Infectious and Narcology Care (LINC) in Russia: design, intervention and implementation protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Russia and Eastern Europe have one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world. While countries in this region have implemented HIV testing within addiction treatment systems, linkage to HIV care from these settings is not yet standard practice. The Linking Infectious and Narcology Care (LINC) intervention utilized peer-led strengths-based case management to motivate HIV-infected patients in addiction treatment to obtain HIV care. This paper describes the protocol of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of the LINC intervention in St. Petersburg, Russia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 349) were recruited from the inpatient wards at the City Addiction Hospital in St. Petersburg, Russia. After completing a baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to receive either the LINC intervention or standard of care. Participants returned for research assessments 6 and 12 months post-baseline. Primary outcomes were assessed via chart review at HIV treatment locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LINC holds the potential to offer an effective approach to coordinating HIV care for people who inject drugs in Russia. The LINC intervention utilizes existing systems of care in Russia, minimizing adoption of substantial infrastructure for implementation. Trial Registration NCT01612455.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gnatienko
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Steve C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, Lev Tolstoy St., 6/8, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 197022.|St. Petersburg Bekhterev Research Psychoneurological Institute, Bekhtereva St., 3, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 192019.
authors.forename: Evgeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krupitsky
authors.affiliation: First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, Lev Tolstoy St., 6/8, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 197022.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blokhina
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bridden
authors.affiliation: Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, 85 East Newton Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chaisson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Debbie M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Global Public Health, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0507, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. jsamet@bu.edu.|Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. jsamet@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Samet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D021841:Safe Sex; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: HIV treatment; Peer case managers; Russian HIV; Substance use