The acceptability of offering rapid ART to PLWH in East London
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The acceptability of offering rapid antiretroviral therapy to people living with HIV in East London: A qualitative study
IRAS ID
274220
Contact name
Rageshri Dhairyawan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Management Office, Barts Health NHS Trust, QMUL
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
The World Health Organisation recommends that people start taking HIV treatment within 7 days of being diagnosed with HIV. This is called “rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART)”. Research shows that rapid ART can help get more people onto medication quickly, help them stay on it for longer, be more likely to control their HIV and possible reduce damage to the immune system. Studies around the world have found that when rapid ART is offered to people newly diagnosed with HIV, they find it acceptable. However some studies highlighted important issues which may stop people from accepting rapid ART. In the UK, there is a lack of research looking at how people living with HIV (PLWH) find being offered rapid ART. At our clinic at Barts Health, we have recently launched the ELIA (East London Immediate ART) pathway for rapid ART. The population of PLWH in East London is very diverse and many have considerable psychological and socioeconomic needs such as poverty and good quality housing. In this study we will use qualitative methodology to explore people’s experiences of being offered rapid ART. This means that we will interview up to 40 PLWH who have been offered rapid ART via the ELIA pathway. We will ask them about their experiences of being newly diagnosed with HIV, being offered rapid ART and what made them more, or less likely to accept ART. We hope that the findings will help us develop rapid ART services that are more sensitive to people’s needs and are better able to support people newly diagnosed with HIV.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0390
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion