# Promoting employment in persons living with HIV/AIDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2023 · $670,126

## Abstract

Abstract
 Many persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are unemployed, with estimates indicating rates as high
as 60%. Unemployment results in lower quality of life, greater depression and substance use, and it is
associated with morbidity and mortality. Although PLWHA face substantial challenges in obtaining and
maintaining jobs, interventions based upon behavior analytic and behavioral economics principles can be
applied alongside best practices employment services to enhance behavior change and improve outcomes.
These interventions involve provision of monetary-based reinforcers for objective evidence of behavior change.
They can successfully enhance job-seeking activities, even in highly marginalized and disenfranchised
populations. This study will examine the efficacy of reinforcing job-acquisition activities for improving
employment outcomes in PLWHA who desire to return to the workforce in part- or full-time capacity. In total,
this study will randomly assign 144 unemployed PLWHA to one of two interventions. All participants will
receive usual unemployment services with an emphasis on specific issues related to HIV/AIDS, plus
encouragement for completing activities geared toward employment readiness and acquisition. The enhanced
intervention will involve that same treatment plus chances to win prizes ranging from $1 to $100 for engaging
in job-related activities each week. Participants will receive study treatments for 16 weeks and complete follow-
up evaluations throughout 18 months. Structured evaluations will assess employment outcomes, quality of life
indices, physical and cognitive functioning, psychological symptoms, viral loads, and drug use and risk
behaviors. The hypothesis is that participants reinforced for completing job-related activities will transition to
employment at higher and faster rates and work more often than those who are not reinforced for job-related
activities. We also expect the reinforcement intervention will increase quality of life, reduce depressive
symptoms, and improve medical outcomes. Compared to the standard care condition, it may also maintain or
improve cognitive functioning and medication adherence and reduce risk behaviors that spread infectious
diseases. We will evaluate moderators and mediators of key employment and health outcomes, with an
emphasis on exploring the extent to which work conditions (temporary, under the table, physically or
emotionally demanding jobs etc.) impact psychosocial and physical health. We will conduct cost-effectiveness
analyses to estimate the potential for wide scale dissemination of this intervention if efficacious.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10551990
- **Project number:** 5R01DA047183-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** Carla J Rash
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $670,126
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10551990

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10551990, Promoting employment in persons living with HIV/AIDS (5R01DA047183-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10551990. Licensed CC0.

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