Accessibility and acceptability of HIV services to older adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of the acceptability and accessibility of HIV testing and prevention services to adults aged 50+ years: A mixed methods approach
IRAS ID
165200
Contact name
Sadie Bell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
The primary purpose of this PhD project is to explore how acceptable and accessible sexual health/HIV clinics and GP practices are as settings for adults aged 50+ years to discuss HIV risk factors and receive HIV testing. The study will employ mixed-methods: cross-sectional surveys and qualitative interviews.
This research is in response to increasing numbers of new HIV diagnoses, and a large proportion of late HIV diagnoses, in the over 50s; this warrants an exploration into whether sexual health/HIV services are currently meeting the needs of older adults. Limited research on this subject has been conducted in the UK.
For the qualitative interviews, adults diagnosed with HIV at age 50+ years are eligible participants. The interviews will explore the experience of becoming newly diagnosed with HIV at this age, with a particular focus on health service encounters leading to diagnosis. Eligible participants will be approached by identified GU/HIV consultants at selected GU/HIV services sites in York, Leicester, Newcastle and London and given a participant information sheet (PIS) by the consultant. The PIS will contain contact details for potential participants to contact the CI, to be recruited to the study. The interview location will be at the GU/HIV service or at the participant's home.
There are two cross-sectional surveys as part of this project. The survey relevant to this application is for healthcare professionals at GP practices. This survey will explore healthcare professionals’ viewpoints and knowledge surrounding HIV and older adults; attitudes towards discussing HIV risk with older adults and offering a HIV test; provision of sexual health/HIV services for older adults in their practice setting. Eligible participants are: general practitioners; advanced nurse practitioners; senior practice nurses and practice nurses. Participants will be recruited via an email, distributed by general practice managers, containing a link to the PIS and online questionnaire.REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0040
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion