Pilot Study of Pharmacist-Led Intervention for People with HIV Using Alcohol and Multiple Medications Affecting Brain Function

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying people with HIV who currently use alcohol and take multiple medications to understand how alcohol, cannabis, and certain medications affect falls and thinking abilities. This pilot study focuses on how alcohol use combined with medications that impact brain function might increase risks of falls and cognitive problems. The study aims to evaluate a pharmacist-led counseling approach to help reduce alcohol use and manage medication risks safely. Participants will receive a brief intervention delivered by specially trained clinical pharmacists using an information, motivation, and behavioral skills approach combined with motivational interviewing. Before the intervention, participants complete alcohol use screenings and a home blood test for alcohol biomarkers. After enrollment, pharmacists will review participants medications and schedule a counseling call to discuss alcohol and medication use, set goals, and develop a plan for safer use. Follow-up calls and surveys will assess progress and experiences, and a final blood test and survey will be completed six months later. Some participants will be invited to share feedback in interviews. During the study, participants will complete surveys about alcohol and cannabis use, medication effects, and readiness to change. They will perform home blood tests for alcohol markers twice and mail results to the lab. Researchers will also review medical records for medication data. The intervention sessions are recorded for quality checks. Study success will be measured by enrollment ability, intervention delivery, participant completion rates, comfort with study content, and acceptance of home testing. Participation lasts about nine months with ongoing support and monitoring.

HIV and Alcohol Research Center Focused on Polypharmacy (HARP) Pilot 2 (2nd HARP Pilot Intervention)