Computer-based Intervention for Alcohol-using HIV/HCV+ Women

Women co-infected with human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are at
elevated risk for adverse health outcomes associated with alcohol use. Evidence-based alcohol
reduction interventions for this vulnerable population are limited. To address this gap, the
proposed study will harness the multidisciplinary expertise and experience of collaborative
Russian-U.S. research team to adapt an effective computer-based intervention, called CBT4CBT,
to enhance its appropriateness for HIV/HCV co-infected women and evaluate its efficacy. The
proposed study will be conducted in three sequential stages: (1) Adaptation, (2)
Implementation, and (3) Evaluation. Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions:
(1) adapted computer-based alcohol reduction intervention, or (2) standard-of-care control
condition. The proposed trial design and analysis provide an appropriate conceptual and
methodological framework to assess the efficacy of the adapted computer-based intervention.
The intervention, if effective, may be an efficient and cost-effective alcohol reduction
strategy that is scalable and can be readily disseminated and integrated in clinical care at
other AIDS Centres in Russia to enhance women's health and reduce HIV/HCV transmission risk.

Inclusion Criteria:

- female;

- receiving HIV medical care at the AIDS Center;

- chart-documented HIV and chronic HCV infection;

- currently prescribed an antiretroviral (ARV) regimen;

- medically, cognitively, and psychologically capable of study participation;

- laboratory-confirmed recent alcohol use as detected by a PEth analysis.