TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with HIV testing in people aged ⩾50 years
T2 - an integrated qualitative analysis of patients and healthcare providers
AU - Youssef, Elaney
AU - Wright, Juliet
AU - Davies, Kevin
AU - Delpech, Valerie
AU - Brown, Alison
AU - Cooper, Vanessa
AU - Sachikonye, Memory
AU - de Visser, Richard
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023.
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Background: Older people continue to be disproportionately affected by late HIV diagnosis, which results in increased morbidity and mortality. Despite high acceptance of HIV testing generally, older people are less likely to undergo testing than younger people. Two previous studies have been conducted, one focussing on patient-related and one focussing on clinician-related factors associated with HIV testing in older age (⩾50 years) Objective: This study is an integrated analysis from two linked studies – one focussed on patients, and one focussed on clinicians – to understand overlap in views and experiences of HIV testing in older age, to outline the clinical implications of the findings, and to highlight potential interventions to improve testing in this group. Methods: This qualitative study utilised semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 clinicians who were not HIV care specialists, but who had recently seen an older person prior to their HIV diagnosis, and 20 people who had been diagnosed late with HIV aged 50+. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The combined synthesis reported here was planned a priori as part of a sequential design. Results: Seven clinician- and seven patient-related themes were associated with undergoing HIV testing in older age. This article discusses the four themes that were common to both groups: poor knowledge, incorrect symptom attribution, inaccurate perception of risk, and stigma. Conclusion: Both clinician and patient factors associated with testing will have to be addressed in order to increase HIV testing in older people, and reduce the likelihood of late diagnosis. Findings from overlapping themes suggest several areas for intervention: (1) routine screening as part of existing clinical contacts aimed at older people to eliminate the need to attribute symptoms to HIV or assess risk; (2) specific and tailored education materials for clinicians and older people which utilise appropriate modalities; (3) tailored HIV testing services: either specific clinics for older people at existing sexual health services, or dedicated services in primary care.
AB - Background: Older people continue to be disproportionately affected by late HIV diagnosis, which results in increased morbidity and mortality. Despite high acceptance of HIV testing generally, older people are less likely to undergo testing than younger people. Two previous studies have been conducted, one focussing on patient-related and one focussing on clinician-related factors associated with HIV testing in older age (⩾50 years) Objective: This study is an integrated analysis from two linked studies – one focussed on patients, and one focussed on clinicians – to understand overlap in views and experiences of HIV testing in older age, to outline the clinical implications of the findings, and to highlight potential interventions to improve testing in this group. Methods: This qualitative study utilised semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 clinicians who were not HIV care specialists, but who had recently seen an older person prior to their HIV diagnosis, and 20 people who had been diagnosed late with HIV aged 50+. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The combined synthesis reported here was planned a priori as part of a sequential design. Results: Seven clinician- and seven patient-related themes were associated with undergoing HIV testing in older age. This article discusses the four themes that were common to both groups: poor knowledge, incorrect symptom attribution, inaccurate perception of risk, and stigma. Conclusion: Both clinician and patient factors associated with testing will have to be addressed in order to increase HIV testing in older people, and reduce the likelihood of late diagnosis. Findings from overlapping themes suggest several areas for intervention: (1) routine screening as part of existing clinical contacts aimed at older people to eliminate the need to attribute symptoms to HIV or assess risk; (2) specific and tailored education materials for clinicians and older people which utilise appropriate modalities; (3) tailored HIV testing services: either specific clinics for older people at existing sexual health services, or dedicated services in primary care.
KW - HIV
KW - HIV testing
KW - health services research
KW - late diagnosis
KW - older people
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165556827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/20499361231186873
DO - 10.1177/20499361231186873
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85165556827
SN - 2049-9361
VL - 10
JO - Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease
JF - Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease
ER -