Evaluation of the Coventry GP HIV Point of Care Testing Pilot
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of offering opt-out point of care HIV testing in primary care in high prevalence wards in Coventry to increase the uptake of HIV testing and improve earlier diagnosis.
IRAS ID
177397
Contact name
Sarahjane Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Medical advancements in the treatment of HIV have resulted in a near-normal life expectancy for patients who are diagnosed early (>350 CD4 cells/mm3). However, between 2011 and 2013, 45% of new diagnoses were made late; in Coventry, this figure is 56%. Late diagnosis of HIV can have severe consequences including an increased rate of complications associated with HIV and reduced life expectancy, a higher rate of onward transmission and higher costs of HIV treatment and care.
The Coventry GP HIV Point of Care Testing (POCT) pilot will implement recommended guidelines by offering HIV testing at new GP patient health checks and to high risk patients presenting in primary care. The purpose of this pilot is to increase the uptake of HIV testing, particularly among high risk populations, as a mechanism for improving the late diagnosis rate.
This qualitative study proposes to use interviews with patients from high risk populations offered the HIV test and health professionals delivering the service to explore the feasibility and acceptability of offering the service on a larger scale. In particular, examining the enablers and barriers to accepting the test. The perspectives of patients from high risk populations, such as those from black African communities and men who have sex with men (MSM), are particularly underserved in the literature yet represent a disproportionate amount of patients diagnosed late. Interviews with patients will be sought with patients who accept and decline the test to ensure the project can capture both the enablers and barriers to patients accepting the test.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0091
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion