Peer Supporter Experiences of Home Visits for People with HIV Infection

Overview

Journal HIV AIDS (Auckl)

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2015 Oct 8

PMID 26445560

Citations 7

Authors

Han Ju Lee

Linda Moneyham

Hee Sun Kang

Kyung Sun Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This study's purpose was to explore the experiences of peer supporters regarding their work in a home visit program for people with HIV infection.

Patients And Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using focus groups. Participants were 12 HIV-positive peer supporters conducting home visits with people living with HIV/AIDS in South Korea. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results: Six major themes emerged: feeling a sense of belonging; concern about financial support; facing HIV-related stigma and fear of disclosure; reaching out and acting as a bridge of hope; feeling burnout; and need for quality education. The study findings indicate that although peer supporters experience several positive aspects in the role, such as feelings of belonging, they also experience issues that make it difficult to be successful in the role, including the position's instability, work-related stress, and concerns about the quality of their continuing education.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that to maintain a stable and effective peer supporter program, such positions require financial support, training in how to prevent and manage stress associated with the role, and a well-developed program of education and training.

Citing Articles

Preferences for enhanced treatment options to address HIV care engagement among women living with HIV and perinatal depression in Malawi.

Mphonda S, Dussault J, Bengtson A, Gaynes B, Go V, Hosseinipour M BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1):1922.

PMID: 37794350 PMC: 10552213. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16835-w.

Supporting the helpers: what do peer deliverers of HIV interventions need to sustain their implementation efforts?.

Jaramillo J, Harkness A Transl Behav Med. 2023; 13(11):826-832.

PMID: 37368359 PMC: 10631879. DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibad039.

The effectiveness and sustainability of peer support interventions for persons living with HIV: a realist synthesis.

Han S, Zhang Y, Yang X, Chai X, Guo J, Zhang L BMJ Glob Health. 2023; 8(2).

PMID: 36804731 PMC: 9943909. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010966.

"They make a difference": a qualitative study of providers' experiences of peer support in outpatient clinics for people living with HIV.

Ogard-Repal A, Berg R, Skogen V, Fossum M BMC Health Serv Res. 2022; 22(1):1380.

PMID: 36411443 PMC: 9676711. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08810-9.

A Scoping Review of the Empirical Literature on Peer Support for People Living with HIV.

Ogard-Repal A, Berg R, Fossum M J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2021; 20:23259582211066401.

PMID: 34919006 PMC: 8725019. DOI: 10.1177/23259582211066401.

References

Tam V, Larsson M, Pharris A, Diedrichs B, Nguyen H, Nguyen C . Peer support and improved quality of life among persons living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment: a randomised controlled trial from north-eastern Vietnam. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012; 10:53. PMC: 3491019. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-10-53. View

Gilbert L, Walker L . 'My biggest fear was that people would reject me once they knew my status...': stigma as experienced by patients in an HIV/AIDS clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. Health Soc Care Community. 2009; 18(2):139-46. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2009.00881.x. View

French H, Greeff M, Watson M . Experiences of people living with HIV and people living close to them of a comprehensive HIV stigma reduction community intervention in an urban and a rural setting. SAHARA J. 2014; 11:105-15. PMC: 4272103. DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2014.938104. View

Prachakul W, Grant J, Keltner N . Relationships among functional social support, HIV-related stigma, social problem solving, and depressive symptoms in people living with HIV: a pilot study. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2007; 18(6):67-76. DOI: 10.1016/j.jana.2007.08.002. View

Nostlinger C, Castro D, Platteau T, Dias S, Le Gall J . HIV-Related discrimination in European health care settings. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2014; 28(3):155-61. PMC: 3948597. DOI: 10.1089/apc.2013.0247. View

Klopper C, Stellenberg E, van der Merwe A . Stigma and HIV disclosure in the Cape Metropolitan area, South Africa. Afr J AIDS Res. 2014; 13(1):37-43. DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2014.886606. View

Ginossar T, Oetzel J, Hill R, Avila M, Archiopoli A, Wilcox B . HIV health-care providers' burnout: can organizational culture make a difference?. AIDS Care. 2014; 26(12):1605-8. DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2014.936819. View

Gusdal A, Obua C, Andualem T, Wahlstrom R, Chalker J, Fochsen G . Peer counselors' role in supporting patients' adherence to ART in Ethiopia and Uganda. AIDS Care. 2011; 23(6):657-62. DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2010.532531. View

Messias D, Moneyham L, Murdaugh C, Phillips K . HIV/AIDS peer counselors' perspectives on intervention delivery formats. Clin Nurs Res. 2006; 15(3):177-96. DOI: 10.1177/1054773806288568. View

10.

Ha P, Chuc N, Hien H, Larsson M, Pharris A . HIV-related stigma: Impact on healthcare workers in Vietnam. Glob Public Health. 2013; 8 Suppl 1:S61-74. DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2013.799217. View

11.

Enriquez M, Farnan R, Neville S . What experienced HIV-infected lay peer educators working in Midwestern U.S. HIV medical care settings think about their role and contributions to patient care. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2013; 27(8):474-80. DOI: 10.1089/apc.2013.0021. View

12.

Jin Y, Liu Z, Wang X, Liu H, Ding G, Su Y . A systematic review of cohort studies of the quality of life in HIV/AIDS patients after antiretroviral therapy. Int J STD AIDS. 2014; 25(11):771-7. DOI: 10.1177/0956462414525769. View

13.

Tobias C, Downes A, Eddens S, Ruiz J . Building blocks for peer success: lessons learned from a train-the-trainer program. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2011; 26(1):53-9. PMC: 3242619. DOI: 10.1089/apc.2011.0224. View

14.

Nachega J, Morroni C, Zuniga J, Sherer R, Beyrer C, Solomon S . HIV-related stigma, isolation, discrimination, and serostatus disclosure: a global survey of 2035 HIV-infected adults. J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic). 2012; 11(3):172-8. DOI: 10.1177/1545109712436723. View

15.

Lau J, Choi K, Tsui H, Su X . Associations between stigmatization toward HIV-related vulnerable groups and similar attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS: branches of the same tree?. AIDS Care. 2007; 19(10):1230-40. DOI: 10.1080/09540120701402848. View

16.

Messias D, Moneyham L, Vyavaharkar M, Murdaugh C, Phillips K . Embodied work: insider perspectives on the work of HIV/AIDS peer counselors. Health Care Women Int. 2009; 30(7):572-94. PMC: 2729058. DOI: 10.1080/07399330902928766. View

17.

Wu Y, Yang H, Wang J, Yao H, Zhao X, Chen J . Prevalence of suicidal ideation and associated factors among HIV-positive MSM in Anhui, China. Int J STD AIDS. 2014; 26(7):496-503. DOI: 10.1177/0956462414544722. View

18.

Wasiu Olalekan A, Akintunde A, Olatunji M . Perception of Societal Stigma and Discrimination Towards People Living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos, Nigeria: a Qualitative Study. Mater Sociomed. 2014; 26(3):191-4. PMC: 4130669. DOI: 10.5455/msm.2014.26.191-194. View

19.

Song J, Lee J, Seo Y, Kim I, Noh J, Baek J . Depression Among HIV-infected Patients in Korea: Assessment of Clinical Significance and Risk Factors. Infect Chemother. 2013; 45(2):211-6. PMC: 3780946. DOI: 10.3947/ic.2013.45.2.211. View

20.

Dutcher M, Phicil S, Goldenkranz S, Rajabiun S, Franks J, Loscher B . "Positive Examples": a bottom-up approach to identifying best practices in HIV care and treatment based on the experiences of peer educators. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2011; 25(7):403-11. DOI: 10.1089/apc.2010.0388. View