Faculty Bibliography

Satisfaction greatly impacts decisions about where and how to access healthcare. This cross-sectional study uses data gathered from young adult gay men in New York City. Findings indicate that participants who experienced discrimination in a healthcare setting were less likely to prefer coordinated healthcare. Participants who disclosed their sexual orientation and were comfortable discussing sexual activity with their provider were more likely to agree that their healthcare needs were adequately addressed. The healthcare system does not fully address the healthcare needs of gay men. Preferences for coordination of care, nondisclosure of sexual orientation, and low levels of satisfaction with services further discourage healthcare usage among this population.

PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:This cross-sectional study of young adult lesbians explores their healthcare experiences including having a primary care provider, forgone care, knowledge of where to obtain Pap testing, and sexually transmitted infection testing. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Quantitative surveys were conducted at lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender venues and events with a sample of 100 young adult lesbians in New York City between June and October 2016. Using the Andersen model of healthcare access, this study examined associations between sociodemographic characteristics and healthcare experiences using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Having a primary care provider was associated with having health insurance (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.9, p < 0.05). Both insurance (AOR = 0.2, p < 0.05) and employment (AOR = 0.2, p < 0.05) status were protective against foregone care among young adult lesbians. Disclosure of sexual orientation to a provider improved knowledge of where to access Pap testing (AOR = 7.5, p < 0.05). Disclosure of sexual orientation to friends and family improved knowledge of where to access sexually transmitted infection testing (AOR = 3.6, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Socioeconomic factors are significantly associated with healthcare access among young adult lesbians in New York City. Maintaining non-discrimination protections for both healthcare services and insurance coverage are important for this population. In addition, financial subsidies that lower the cost of health insurance coverage may also help improve healthcare access among young adult lesbians.

Background Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing in hospital- based settings represents an opportunity to intervene and prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infections. Methods Electronic health records of patient visits at NYC Health+Hospitals(H+H)/Bellevue between 1/1/14-7/30/17 were queried for positive STIs (gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) & syphilis) results by hospital location and time. Visit data also included: patient demographic characteristics and PrEP prescriptions. Generalized estimating equations using a logit link, to account for repeated within patient measures, were used to explore the relationship between having a medical follow- up visit in <=30 and <=90 days following STI testing, which represents an opportunity to provide PrEP prescription, and demographic factors, controlling for key confounders. Results A total of 1,169 HIV-negative patients with 1+ STI diagnosis contributed 1,275 visits, of whom 700 (58%) were female with mean age of 32 yrs (SD=12.3)] and 532 (42%) were male with mean age of 44 yrs (SD 16.3). The majority of patients were Black (40%) or Hispanic/Latino (50%). In this sample, only 27 patients received PrEP. Overall, chlamydia was the most common (135/11%), followed by syphilis (476/ 38%) and gonorrhea (135/11%). Two-thirds of patients with a +STI diagnosis originated from the ED (33%) and OB/GYN clinics (32%); an additional 11% were diagnosed in Medicine clinics. 78% of patients did not have follow up <=30 days after +STI diagnosis. In adjusted analyses, the adjusted OR for follow up <=30 days after +STI diagnosis was lower for Black patients [0.39 (95%CI 0.21-0.72, p<0.01)] and higher for patients >=45 years old 2.20 [(95%CI 1.16-4.19, p= 0.02)]. Conclusion STI testing at a major, publicly-funded hospital within NYC H&H is an opportunity to discuss and prescribe PrEP. However, our findings suggest that there are significant missed opportunities for linkage to care after a +STI diagnosis and PrEP initiation, especially in the ED among young Black patients

Background Understanding the relationships between demographic, healthcare-related and psychosocial factors with STI vulnerability will provide information that can guide development of STI prevention efforts tailored to the lived realities of YMSM. Methods Between 2009-2011, n=600 YMSM were enrolled at age 18 in a prospective cohort study examining psychosocial and physical health during semi-annual visits conducted over a 36-month period. Reports of recent STIs were collected by self-report and a composite outcome variable was created: self-report of any STI (CT, GC, and/or syphilis) in the prior 90 days (hereafter called STI diagnoses). Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine relationships between STI diagnoses and 3 domains of covariates: demographic factors, psychosocial factors, and healthcare system related factors. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with link logit was used to model factors from each domain associated with STI diagnoses. Results Over the course of the study period, these 597 participants contributed a total of 2,765 visits and self-reported n=205 STI diagnoses (composite variable detailed above). Increased age was associated with increased likelihood of STI diagnoses (aOR=1.22 per year, 95% CI 1.04-1.43) after adjustment for SES, race, #insertive/receptive anal intercourse acts, type of healthcare obtained (private clinic, public clinic, VA), and insurance status. Black/African YMSM were more likely to self-report an STI (aOR=2.90, 95% CI 1.50-5.61), compared to White (non-hispanic) peers (adjusted for age, SES, #sex acts, clinic type, and insurance). Participants receiving healthcare at public clinics (aOR= 1.89, 95% CI 1.30- 2.77) and VA facilities (aOR= 4.13 95% CI 2.24-7.60) were more likely to report STI diagnoses than those attending private clinics (adjusted for age, race, SES, #sex acts, insurance). Depression score, gay-related stigma, internalized homophobia were not associated with STI diagnoses. Conclusion Older black/african YMSM were more likely to self-report an STI, perhaps because they participant in a different core mixing group of sexual contacts than other participants

Background: A relative dearth of literature exists on preferences of young gay male patients have regarding the sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) of their healthcare providers. Further research in this area is warranted to better serve the young MSM population.
Method(s): Data collection: A sample of 800 young adult gay men completed a brief survey on healthcare preferences between 2015-2016. Participant inclusion criteria were: age 18-29, male gender, self-identified gay sexual orientation, living in US for 5+ years, and being a resident of the New York City metropolitan area. Only participants who reported having a current PCP provided information on preferred PCP characteristics (i.e. male and/or LGBT). Data analysis: Multivariable logistic regression models were built to assess factors associated with participant preference for an LGBT or male PCP. Covariates for inclusion were considered based on prior literature as well as those identified as significant in bivariate logistic regression analyses. Backward model selection with variance inflation factor (VIF) analysis was used to eliminate collinearity and arrive at the most parsimonious models.
Result(s): In this sample, n=614 men (77%) reported having a PCP. Of those 614 with a PCP, 42% indicated a preference for male PCP, 36% preferred a gay or LGBT PCP, and a total of 20% preferred a male-LGBT provider. A preference for consolidated care and distrust in the health system were associated with preference for a sexual orientation concordant PCP. Preference for sexual orientation concordance was strongly associated with preference for gender concordance, and vice versa. Minority race was also found to be associated with preference for a gender-identity concordant (male) PCP.
Conclusion(s): Gay men who wish to discuss their overall health and sexual health with their primary care provider (ie, receive consolidated care) tend to prefer a LGBT provider. This is also true of gay men who distrust the healthcare system, possibly because they anticipate these providers will provide more culturally sensitive care. A surprising association was found between minority racial Background and preference for a gender concordant provider. Further research is warranted to explore the factors giving rise to this finding

We examined the prevalence of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV in a cohort of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men [sexual minority men (SMM)]. HPV vaccination uptake was assessed; HIV antibody testing was performed and genetic testing for oral and anal HPV infection was undertaken. We examined both HPV vaccination and infection in relation to key demographic and structural variables. Participants (n = 486) were on average 23 years old; 70% identified as a member of a racial/ethnic minority group, and 7% identified as transgender females. Only 18.1% of the participants indicated having received the full dosage of HPV vaccination and 45.1% were unvaccinated. Slightly over half the participants (58.6%) were infected with HPV, with 58.1% testing positive for anal infection and 8.8% for oral infection. HIV seropositivity was associated with infection to oral HPV [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.03] and vaccine-preventable HPV, whereas both neighborhood-level poverty (AOR = 1.68) and HIV infection (AOR = 31.13) were associated with anal infection to HPV (AOR = 1.68). Prevalence of HPV infection is high among unvaccinated young SMM, despite the availability and eligibility for vaccination. HPV infection adds further health burden to these populations and is particularly concerning for those who are HIV positive as HIV infection increases the risk of developing HPV-related cancers. These findings underscore a missed prevention opportunity for an at-risk and underserved population and suggest the need for active strategies to increase HPV vaccination uptake in young SMM before the onset of sexual behavior.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is an understudied health problem among young gay, bisexual, and other non-identified young men who have sex with men (YMSM). According to cross-sectional studies, IPV is associated with psychosocial and mental health problems, such as stigma and depression, among YMSM. IPV is also associated with health-risk behaviors, such as substance use, among this population. Yet, to date, no studies have used longitudinal data to examine determinants of IPV among YMSM. This gap in the extant literature is problematic, as it limits our understanding of how to intervene to interrupt cycles of violence. The aim of the present study was to examine longitudinal determinants of IPV among a sample of (N = 526) YMSM living in the New York City area. Longitudinal analyses using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to examine individual, relationship, mental health, psychosocial, and substance use factors in relation to IPV victimization and perpetration. Most notably, early experiences of IPV were a robust predictor of later experiences of IPV victimization and perpetration. Relationship status, depression, public gay-related stigma, and illicit substance use were associated with IPV victimization over time. Similarly, relationship status, depression, public gay-related stigma, marijuana, and other illicit substance were associated with IPV perpetration. These findings suggest that prevention programs and awareness campaigns should aim to reach YMSM before their first experiences of relationship violence, as these early experiences of violence are strongly linked to later experiences of violence. Also, IPV interventions should be tailored to the needs of YMSM and should target depressive symptoms, gay-related stigma, and substance use behaviors. Additionally, substance use interventions may be improved by addressing IPV. Finally, policymakers should support policies that improve the social climate for LGBTQ people, thereby reducing gay-related stigma, and potentially stemming violence against and among YMSM.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Motivations for alcohol use to intoxication vary among young adults depending on social setting and other contextual factors. However, there is limited research exploring the role of different drinking motivations among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). METHODS:Data from a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of YMSM (n = 426) were used to examine associations between recent (last 30 days) alcohol use to intoxication and scores on three distinct drinking motivation subscales: convivial, intimate, and negative coping drinking. Multinomial logistic regression models were constructed to examine associations between drinking motivations and days of alcohol use to intoxication, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS:YMSM who scored higher on all three drinking motivation subscales were more likely to engage in recent alcohol use to intoxication compared to those who reported no alcohol use to intoxication. In multivariable models, Black and Hispanic YMSM had lower odds of intoxication compared to White YMSM, and those reporting lower perceived familial SES had lower odds compared to higher SES. In a final model including all three motivations, only convivial drinking was significantly associated with days of intoxication (1-2 days: AOR = 1.22; 3+ days: AOR = 1.45). CONCLUSIONS:This study identifies distinct associations between different motivations for drinking and alcohol use to intoxication in a sample of YMSM. These findings highlight a need to incorporate an understanding of motivations for alcohol use to intoxication into research and clinical practice with YMSM, as different reasons for drinking carry respective potential health risks.