Health Care Provider Perspectives on Informal Supporters’ Involvement in HIV Care

Abstract

Positive social support has been associated with medication adherence and slowed disease progression among people living with HIV. The nature of support within the medical context itself has not been adequately investigated, however. The purpose of our study was to describe HIV health care providers’ perspectives on informal supporter-oriented health care and whether and how the involvement of patients’ adult informal supporters in health care and health care decision making is helpful or beneficial. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 11 HIV specialists between March and September, 2005. Using directed qualitative content analysis, we first describe the frequency and course of others’ involvement and the type of support provided. We then situate these findings within the context of role theory and consider the meaning they have in terms of the negotiated relationships among and between patients, providers, and informal supporters. Finally, we provide research and clinical recommendations based on these findings that are designed to improve patient care.

Beyond the Ball: Implications for HIV Risk and Prevention Among the Constructed Families of African American Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…In addition to the high rates of HIV infection, AAMSM are less likely to enter and stay in medical treatment, less likely to be on highly active antiretroviral medications, less likely to have optimal adherence, and are more likely to have a higher viral load than other populations in the United States (Hightow-Weidman, Jones et al 2011; Chen, Rhodes et al 2012). A factor that very consistently and strongly predicts high HIV care attendance and high antiretroviral medication adherence is social support from those close to the person living with HIV (Catz, Gore-Felton et al 2002; Burgoyne and Renwick 2004; Gonzalez, Penedo et al 2004; Mosack and Petroll 2009; Mosack and Wendorf 2011). Recent research suggests that early treatment with antiretroviral medications can reduce HIV infection by decreasing the viral load of people living with HIV/AIDS and therefore the likelihood that they will pass the infection to others (Grant, Lama et al 2010; Cohen, Chen et al 2011; Baeten, Donnell et al 2012).…”

Discordance in HIV-Positive Patient and Health Care Provider Perspectives on Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Care

“…For our study, we used a secondary comparative method to compare data from two previously published studies in which participants consisted of HIV-positive patients 12 and infectious disease health care providers 13 who described their experiences with short- and long-term treatment planning and collaborative decision-making (e.g., family involvement in treatment planning). According to Harrison and Parker, 15 this method is useful to compare phenomena from participants of different groups when the same research question is examined in the two groups.…”

Enhancing the Wellbeing of Divorced Persons Through Social Work Services: Service-Users’ Experiences and Suggestions

“…Formal and informal support systems assisted in physiological and psychological functioning and in coping with divorce (Bowen & Jensen, 2017:1372Gahler, 2006:374). The majority of divorced persons prefer to receive informal social support before seeking formal support and this involves support from partners, friends, colleagues and family members (Antonucci, Lansford & Ajrouch, 2007:539;Mosack & Wendorf, 2011:1554. Derik and Belinda spoke of the support they received from their friends:…”