A Novel Computer-Based Virtual Counselor-Delivered Alcohol Reduction Intervention: Acceptability, Adaptability and Feasibility among Adults with HIV or TB in Indian Clinical Settings (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among persons with HIV and/or TB. Computer-Based interventions (CBI) can reduce unhealthy alcohol use, are scalable, and may improve outcomes among patients with HIV or TB. OBJECTIVE We assessed the acceptability, adaptability, and feasibility of a novel CBI for alcohol reduction in HIV and TB clinical settings in Pune, India. METHODS We conducted 10 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with persons with alcohol use disorder (AUD); [TB (n=6), HIV (n=2), HIV-TB co-infected (n=1) selected using convenience sampling method, No HIV or TB disease (n=1)], one focus group (FG) with members of alcoholics anonymous (AA) (n=12, and two FGs with health care providers (HCPs) of a tertiary care hospital (n=22). All participants reviewed and provided feedback on a CBI for AUD delivered by a 3-D virtual counselor. Qualitative data were analyzed using structured framework analysis. RESULTS Majority (n=9) of IDI respondents were male with median age 42 (IQR; 38-45) years. AA FG participants were all male (n=12) and HCPs FG participants were predominantly female (n=15). Feedback was organized into 3 domains: 1) Virtual counselor acceptability; 2) Intervention adaptability; and 3) feasibility of CBI intervention in clinic settings. Overall IDI participants found the virtual counselor to be acceptable and felt comfortable honestly answering alcohol-related questions. All FG participants preferred a human virtual counselor to an animal virtual counselor so as to potentially increase CBI engagement. Additionally, interaction with a live human counselor would further enhance the program’s effectiveness by providing more flexible interaction. HCP FGs noted the importance of adding information on the effects of alcohol on HIV and TB outcomes because patients were not viewed as appreciating these linkages. For local adaptation, more information on types of alcoholic drinks, additional drinking triggers, motivators and activities to substitute for drinking alcohol were suggested by all FG participants. Intervention duration (~20 minutes) and pace were deemed appropriate. HCPs reported that CBI provides systematic, standardized counseling. All FG and IDI reported that CBI could be implemented in Indian clinical settings with assistance from HIV or TB program staff. CONCLUSIONS With cultural tailoring to patients with HIV and TB in Indian clinical care settings, a virtual counselor-delivered alcohol intervention is acceptable, appears feasible to implement, particularly if coupled with person-delivered counseling.