Rowe, KristenPozuelo, Julia RuizNickless, AleciaNkosi, A.D.Dos Santos, AndelineKahn, KathleenTollman, StephenWagner, Ryan G.Scerif, GaiaStein, Alan2023-10-032023-10-032023Kirsten Rowe, Julia Ruiz Pozuelo, Alecia Nickless, Absolum David Nkosi, Andeline dos Santos, Kathleen Kahn, Stephen Tollman, Ryan G. Wagner, Gaia Scerif & Alan Stein (2023) The adolescent HIV executive function and drumming (AHEAD) study, a feasibility trial of a group drumming intervention amongst adolescents with HIV, AIDS Care, 35:11, 1796-1814, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2195607.0954-0121 (print)1360-0451 (online)10.1080/09540121.2023.2195607http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92661AHEAD feasibility trial assessed the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-session group drummingprogramme aiming to improve executive function, depression and anxiety symptoms, andperceived social support in adolescents living with HIV in a rural low-income South Africansetting. Sixty-eight 12- to 19-year-old adolescents participated. They were individuallyrandomised. The intervention arm (n= 34) received weekly hour-long group drumming sessions.Controls (n= 34) received no intervention. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed usingrates of: enrolment; retention; attendance; logistical problems; adolescent-reportedacceptability. Secondary measures included:five Oxford Cognitive Screen-Executive Function(OCS-EF) tasks; two Rapid Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Regulation (RACER) tasks; theSelf-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) measuring depression and anxiety symptoms; theMultidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). All feasibility criteria were withingreen progression limits. Enrolment, retention, and acceptability were high. There was a positive effect on adolescent depressed mood with a signal for a working memory effect. There were no significant effects on executive function or socio-emotional scales. Qualitative findings suggested socio-emotional benefits including group belonging; decreased internalised stigma; improved mood; and decreased anxiety. Group drumming is a feasible and acceptable intervention among adolescents living with HIV in rural South Africa. A full-scale trial is recommendeden© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/),AdolescentsExecutive functionTrialDrummingMental healthHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)SDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle