Reducing Hazardous Alcohol Use & Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Viral Load: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinics in Vietnam

This study is a three-arm randomized controlled trial among hazardous and heavy drinking HIV-infected ART clinic clients in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. It compares the effects of two evidence-based, culturally adapted, behavioral interventions [a Brief Intervention (BI) and a Motivational Enhancement Therapy+Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MET+CBT) Intervention] both against each other and compared with an assessment-only standard of care arm, in order to understand the relative effectiveness of each intervention in reducing alcohol use and suppressing HIV viral load.

The Brief Intervention (BI) consists of 2 individual sessions and 2 booster phone sessions delivered by a trained counselor and is based on Project Treat. Content of BI sessions includes review of drinking patterns, harmful effects of drinking, and alcohol use behavior change strategies. The MET+CBT Intervention consists of 6 sessions delivered by a trained counselor. The MET+CBT Intervention uses a client-centered, motivational interviewing approach and focuses on skills-building for alcohol use behavior change, including drinking refusal skills, skills to cope with and manage cravings and triggers, and developing positive thoughts and attitudes. It also includes review of drinking patterns and harmful effects of drinking.

This study will also measure the incremental cost-effectiveness of each intervention as compared to current counseling services offered in ART clinics in Vietnam.

Investigators hypothesize that: 1) Each intervention will be more effective than an assessment-only arm on percent days alcohol abstinent and percent virally suppressed at the 12-month assessment; 2) The BI will be equivalently effective to the MET+CBT Intervention on percent days alcohol abstinent; 3) The effect of each intervention on alcohol abstinence and viral suppression will be mediated by alcohol use readiness to change and/or coping skills acquisition; 4) The MET+CBT Intervention will be more effective than the BI on alcohol abstinence and viral suppression separately among participants with more severe alcohol use, people who inject drugs, and participants with depressive symptoms; 5) The alcohol reduction interventions (BI and MET+CBT Intervention) will be highly cost-effective compared to assessment-only standard of care; and 6) The BI will be highly cost-effective relative to the MET+CBT Intervention.

Understanding the relative effectiveness of each intervention in improving both alcohol- and HIV-related outcomes will provide insight into the optimal application of alcohol programs in resource-limited settings.