Why Are You Doing the Study?
Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI-ART) is a great medication option for people living with HIV (PWH). Patients think it is convenient and easier than daily pills. Although it is more convenient, they worry that frequent clinic visits can increase stigma, increase the risk of disclosure, and lead to frequent disruptions in their daily lives. Traveling to a clinic for injection visits multiple times throughout the year can also be expensive and hard to arrange for many patients and can worsen inequality in healthcare.
Similarly, clinicians worry that additional visits outside of routine care may lead to missed appointments, decreased engagement in care, and put further strain on limited clinic resources. Training a layperson injector (such as family, friend, or partner of the patient) to give the injection can help mitigate some of these barriers. This model of care has been used successfully in other contexts. Until now, it has not been evaluated for HIV treatment. Alternative LAI-ART delivery methods have the potential to increase the PWH and layperson injector’s confidence, empowerment, convenience, privacy, and self-management skills, and ultimately facilitate LAI-ART uptake and persistence.
Are You Currently in Aim 1 or Aim 2?
We are currently in Aim 1. This means we are conducting interviews with clinicians, people living with HIV, and treatment buddies.
Who Can Participate?
For Aim 1, we are looking for 2 types of people:
People Living with HIV who are:
- 18+
- Patient at Ward 86, Women's HIV Clinic, 360 Clinic, or the Adult Immunology Clinic at Highland Hospital
- Prescribed Cabenuva and completed the first dose without any major issues
- Can identify a support person (ie family, friend, or partner) who knows about their HIV status (or feel comfortable telling) who is willing and eligible.
- Have sufficient fluency in English to understand and respond to interview questions
Treatment Buddies:
- 18+
- Have been asked by a PWH who meets the above criteria
- Would consider providing injections to the PWH, who has also agreed to participate
- Have sufficient fluency in English to understand and respond to interview questions
How Much Time Will It Take?
Aim 1 interviews will take 1 hour.
Where Will the Interviews Take Place?
The interviews will take place over zoom.
Will I Get Paid?
Participants will receive a $40 Amazon giftcard for the 1 hour interview
How Do I Sign Up For the Study?
Click Here to Enter Your Contact Info
Enter your contact information and receive a call back from study staff to find out if you qualify.