Mediating Effects of Stigma and Depressive Symptoms in a Social Media-based Intervention to Improve Long-term QOL among People Living with HIV: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial Using Structural Equation Model. (Preprint)
BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been shown to effectively improve quality of life (QOL) among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, little is known about the mechanisms of how mHealth interventions take effects, especially in the long term. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the intervention mechanisms of a social media-based intervention, Run4Love, on QOL over 9-month follow-up. METHODS We recruited PLWH who were concurrently experiencing elevated depressive symptoms from the HIV outpatient clinic in South China. A total of 300 eligible participants were randomized to the intervention group or control group in a 1:1 ratio after informed consent and baseline survey. The intervention group received a 3-month WeChat-based intervention, comprising cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) courses and physical activity promotion. The control group received a printed brochure on nutrition guidelines besides usual care for HIV treatment. Neither participants nor research staff were blinded to group assignment. All patients were followed at 3, 6, and 9 months. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms. Structural equation model (SEM) with longitudinal data was conducted to examine the sequential mediating effects of HIV-related stigma and depressive symptoms on the long-term intervention effects on QOL. RESULTS About 91.3%, 88.3%, and 86.7% participants completed follow-up surveys at 3, 6, and 9 months. Results showed that the intervention had significantly improved QOL at 9 months via complete mediating effects of reduced HIV-related stigma at 3 months and decreased depressive symptoms at 6 months. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS The findings underscore the critical roles of HIV-related stigma and depressive symptoms in an mHealth intervention with long-term effect on QOL improvements. We call for targeted mHealth interventions to improve QOL among PLWH, especially social media-based interventions that can address HIV-related stigma and alleviate depressive symptoms. CLINICALTRIAL The trail was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IPR-17012606).