UNC CFAR SBIS Core Director Vivian Go and Developmental Core Co-Director Bill Miller recently published the findings from their hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness, cluster-randomized trial in ten provinces in Vietnam. This study, conducted with a team from UNC Vietnam, Hanoi Medical University, and the Vietnam Ministry of Health, aimed to compare two approaches to implementing the systems navigation and psychological counselling (SNaP) intervention: a “one-size-fits-all” approach and a tailored approach. Implementation outcomes included fidelity, penetration, acceptability, and costs. Other outcomes examined were ART initiation, ART use, and viral suppression.
The results showed that using a tailored and locally informed approach to implement SNaP increased fidelity, compared to the “one-size-fits-all” method. Additionally, individuals who received the tailored SNaP approach had greater levels of viral suppression than those who received the standard version. Among both approaches, almost all participants initiated ART. These findings highlight the importance of using locally informed strategies when implementing evidence-based interventions related to HIV care and prevention for individuals who inject drugs.
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