Researcher studies what makes people with HIV successful at sticking with antiretroviral treatment
At the end of 2011, an estimated 34 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS. In Alberta, the total was 1,532. Thanks to scientific improvements in antiretroviral therapy, many of these Albertans are living long and full lives. The key to living longer with HIV is sticking with the antiretroviral therapy prescribed.
Megan Lefebvre, a PhD candidate with the School of Public Health, is intrigued by the factors that make people successful at adhering to antiretroviral therapy. Working with the Northern Alberta HIV Program, Lefebvre noted that patients who identified themselves as having chaotic lives—those experiencing unstable housing, substance use and incarceration—still managed to adhere to their antiretroviral therapy.
"A lot of studies had been directed toward the barriers and the failures of HIV adherence," says Lefebvre. "Nobody had asked patients why they were successful with adhering, or how they'd been doing it. That's what I wanted to learn more about."
Using a research method called focused ethnography, Lefebvre purposely chose and interviewed 14 HIV-positive patients receiving care at the Northern Alberta program. These patients were very knowledgeable about their health and their antiretroviral treatment, and could share details about their experiences as patients.
A measure of control in the midst of chaos
Lefebvre learned that, although the patients had chaotic lives, the one area they felt they could control was taking their antiretroviral medication.
"When I asked them about their day from start to finish, they were all motivated to take their pills as part of their routine," she says. "When I asked them why they took their pill, they stated, 'Because I don't want to die.'"
She noticed that patients appeared to compartmentalize the chaos in their lives, but taking their antiretroviral medication signified control over one thing in the midst of chaos. Lefebvre noted that this small measure of control enabled patients to take other positive steps in their lives.
For instance, one interviewee indicated that the benefits of taking his medication included getting positive feedback from the health-care team, feeling better and reconnecting with family.
The most important outcome of this research for Lefebvre was the ability to share the information generated by the patients in her study with other HIV patients. Six patients participated in a video that is being used at HIV Edmonton and shown by the video participants themselves—the peer educators—to other HIV-positive individuals. The video and peer educators have created a space for people living with HIV to have conversations about being HIV-positive and about taking their medications.
Lefebvre would like to continue this project and follow up with HIV-positive patients to see whether their adherence behaviour changes. She also envisions using the video and working with clinicians to create more opportunities for other HIV-positive patients to talk about medication adherence.
"I've learned a lot from the participants, and I've learned the value of partnering with communities to conduct research," says Lefebvre. "Working together, we've created valuable tools that will help translate research knowledge into practice and support marginalized populations."
