2.8.2. Second screening interview
HIV viral suppression
Those found preliminarily eligible at this stage were told they might be eligible for the research study, pending confirmation of non-suppressed HIV viral load on a recent laboratory report (HIV viral load assessed in the past 2 months). If potential participants were interested, the research staff discussed strategies participants could use to obtain new or existing laboratory reports without cost. Participants were asked to provide the laboratory report in an electronic format prior to the second screening interview (e.g., a photograph or screenshot sent electronically to a password-protected computer) or have their healthcare facility provide the report to the study electronically. Electronic faxes from health care settings were received by a computer-based application on a password-protected computer. Challenges to obtaining laboratory reports were common and included participants not recently attending HIV care visits and therefore not having a recent lab report, their having inconsistent access to cell phones or cell phone service being cut off, not being certain how to request or not feeling comfortable requesting a lab report from the provider, or not knowing how to create a screenshot or take a photograph to send lab results to the study electronically. These barriers were overcome by walking participants through the process of obtaining records, helping them take a problem-solving approach to barriers, and offering to contact the provider directly (with participants' signed consent). Participants typically required assistance obtaining the laboratory report (>90% of the time).During the second screening interview, HIV viral load values were entered into REDCap and we then determined study eligibility based on HIV viral suppression status. Lab reports were scanned as needed and the electronic version was loaded into REDCap. No paper copies were retained, nor were electronic copies of records stored on computer hard drives, to protect participant confidentiality. Because participants generally requested their own records from providers or provided their records to the study, they were not required by the study to sign a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) consent form. However, participants did sign a HIPAA form in cases where we were asked to contact the providers directly (we contacted providers in ~10% of cases). Participants received $30 for providing the laboratory report to the study and $10 for the second screening interview.