Brief Strengths-Based Case Management Promotes Entry Into HIV Medical Care

OBJECTIVE: The Antiretroviral Treatment Access Study-II (ARTAS-II) evaluated a brief case management intervention delivered in health departments and community-based organizations (CBOs) to link recently diagnosed HIV-infected persons to medical care rapidly. METHODS: Recently diagnosed HIV-infected persons were recruited from 10 study sites across the United States during 2005 to 2006. The intervention consisted of up to 5 sessions with an ARTAS linkage case manager over a 90-day period. The outcome measure was whether or not the participant had seen an HIV medical care provider at least once within 6 months of enrollment. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of receiving HIV medical care. RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent (497 of 626) of participants visited an HIV clinician at least once within the first 6 months. Participants who were older than 25 years of age, Hispanic, and stably housed; had not recently used noninjection drugs; had attended 2 or more sessions with the case manager; and were recruited at a study site that had HIV medical care colocated on its premises were all significantly more likely to have received HIV care. CONCLUSIONS: The ARTAS linkage case management intervention provides a model that health departments and CBOs can use to ensure that recently diagnosed HIV-infected persons attend an initial HIV care encounter.