# Internet-Based Video-Conferencing to Address Alcohol Use and Pain Among Heavy Drinkers in HIV-Care

> **NIH NIH UH3** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2020 · $430,935

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Chronic pain and heavy drinking are common co-occurring conditions among people living with HIV infection
(PLWH) each of which have a negative impact on daily functioning and HIV-related outcomes. Moreover,
these comorbid conditions have a significant impact on one another. Pain is an important trigger for alcohol
use among heavy drinkers and is linked with the experience of negative alcohol-related consequences.
Among PLWH, moderate or greater pain has been linked with risky drinking over time. Similarly, problem
drinking interferes with pain management efforts among those with chronic pain and is linked to earlier dropout
from treatment. Clinicians face a number of challenges in their efforts to address these frequently co-occurring
conditions including low patient motivation for change, poor adherence to treatment, and frequent barriers to
using pharmacological treatments to adequately treat both conditions. Given the rates of chronic pain and
heavy drinking among PLWH, their combined impact on daily functioning and HIV-outcomes, and available
treatment limitations, there would be considerable benefit to an integrative behavioral approach to address
these comorbid conditions in a manner that may be readily incorporated into HIV-care settings and easily
utilized by patients. Through the UH2/UH3 mechanism the objectives of the proposal are to, 1) develop an
integrated behavioral video telehealth intervention approach to reduce pain and alcohol use among heavy
drinking HIV-infected patients with chronic pain and determine its feasibility and acceptability (UH2) and 2)
obtain effect size estimates of intervention efficacy through a randomized controlled pilot trial (UH3). This
study represents a first effort to utilize a video telehealth approach to address alcohol use and pain for patients
this setting. The UH2 component will be used for treatment development and initial testing with a small sample
of patients in an open pilot. Evidence of patient acceptability and feasibility in this setting along with pre-post
changes in identified outcomes will provide data on which to base the UH3 component which will be a
preliminary test of intervention efficacy through a randomized controlled pilot trial.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10019311
- **Project number:** 5UH3AA026192-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** TIBOR P. PALFAI
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $430,935
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10019311

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10019311, Internet-Based Video-Conferencing to Address Alcohol Use and Pain Among Heavy Drinkers in HIV-Care (5UH3AA026192-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10019311. Licensed CC0.

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