Combating HIV Stigma in Healthcare Settings: A Standardized Patient Approach
University of Minnesota
Summary
The goal of this study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a training program to reduce intersectional stigma faced by sexual minorities and people living with HIV (PLWH) in healthcare settings. The study participants are medical providers (i.e. physicians) specializing in sexual health medicine in Vietnam.
Description
Consistent data highlight the central role of stigma in limiting uptake of HIV related testing, treatment, and care. This is particularly true for gay, bisexual, and other MSM who have the lowest rates of engagement with the healthcare system despite bearing the highest HIV incidence burden. Particularly for MSM seeking HIV testing services, enacted stigma-overt acts of discrimination and hostility directed at a person because of their perceived stigmatized status -both on account of their same-sex behaviors (i.e. sexuality stigma or homophobia) and the perception of their elevated HIV risk (H…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible facilities are those with capacity to provide STDs care and treatment services. Within eligible and consenting facilities, eligible providers are those who are licensed at the time of the study to practice STD care in Vietnam. Exclusion Criteria: * None
Interventions
- BehavioralStigma reduction intervention
Care providers will complete the Stigma Reduction Intervention curriculum. The intervention is a multi-day stigma reduction training program for providers. Content design is greatly informed by materials developed in our pilot R34 study, and which may be modified prior to the intervention if the team gains new insights from the baseline round of unannounced visits and each of the two CABs. Briefly, the intervention consists of both didactic and experiential learning components. Didactic sessions include instruction on syphilis epidemiology, clinical management, and public health significance. Experiential sessions include discussion sessions that are facilitated by pre-recorded videos, followed by role play with trained SPs.
Location
- University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota