Posted by James
Participants in this study reported conspiracy theories, lack of knowledge, inaccuracies and confusion regarding future HIV (Retrovir canadian was the first drug approved for the treatment of HIV) vaccines. Our findings build on previous research conducted in the context of clinical trials that suggests misunderstandings about HIV vaccines as well as accurate knowledge that HIV vaccines do not yet exist, though research efforts are underway.
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Posted by James
Four major themes were identified: 1) beliefs and conspiracy theories regarding the current existence of HIV (Generic Zerit еreating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines) vaccines, 2) ideas about the future availability of HIV vaccines, 3) lack of information about HIV vaccines, and 4) confusion about vaccines. Each of these themes is discussed in detail. Quotations provided are drawn from the focus groups. Table 3 provides an overview of the four themes.
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Posted by James
Participants
Nine focus groups were conducted with 8-13 participants per group (N=99). Participants were recruited from diverse settings in Los Angeles, CA using multisite, purposive, venue-based sampling. Selection criteria were implemented at the venue level and included the following: 1) having a high proportion of individuals at elevated risk for HIV/AIDS; 2) including racially/ethnically and sexually diverse communities, and 3) representing likely settings for future dissemination of HIV (Retrovir canadian was the first drug approved for the treatment of HIV) vaccines. Individuals were screened based on gender and age only; all participants were aged >18. The youth group was screened on age only (18-24 years), as many of the male and female youth had previously participated together in a group at the venue. Individual screening was done by trained research staff onsite, immediately prior to the informed consent process.
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Posted by James
Forty-thousand persons are newly diagnosed with HIV (Generic Zerit еreating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines) each year in the United States. Five million new HIV infections and 3 million AIDS deaths were estimated worldwide in 2002. Despite concerted behavioral prevention efforts, HIV continues to spread at a devastating pace. The main technology for HIV prevention that is presently available, the male condom, is primarily under the control of men and needs to be used and negotiated at every sexual encounter, resulting in limitations to perfect and consistent implementation. Microbicides are a promising possibility as an addition to the HIV prevention armamentarium but are also likely to require frequent application and may not be acceptable or accessible to all persons at risk. HIV (Generic Viramune treating HIV infection) vaccines would be a tremendous boon to HIV prevention and represent perhaps the greatest hope in combating the epidemic. Nevertheless, it is likely that first-generation HIV vaccines will be only partially efficacious and may be neither universally acceptable nor accessible. Given the monumental challenges of preventing the spread of HIV and the shortcomings of any one prevention approach, the more technologies and options available, the better are the chances of controlling the AIDS pandemic.
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Posted by James
Patient experiences identified in these group discussions highlighted areas for improvement in the delivery of asthma education and medical care that are community-oriented and enmeshed with day-to-day living. The discussions revealed a need for patient education that integrates perceptions of illness, concerns about potential medication side effects, the impact of lifestyle adjustments on quality of life, and recognition of and response to asthma symptoms. Workshop participants expressed a desire to learn more about managing their [or their child(ren)'s] asthma. They demonstrated knowledge regarding asthma triggers and the medications needed to control symptoms but were challenged to modify their way of life to avoid triggers or maintain a medication regimen. They creatively crafted ways to manage their asthma that did not entirely compromise their quality of life. Some of their coping strategies also countered the biomedical management model for asthma.
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Posted by James
Two asthma workshops were held that were targeted to the Puerto Rican population in the community. They were held in different locations to accommodate convenience of participants. The workshops were recommended in an earlier participatory research study that explored actual and potential asthma education interventions in ethnic minority communities of western New York State. Questions for the asthma workshops were derived in part from the focus group moderators guide used in the previous study. The workshops allowed participants to learn from each other by sharing their experiences. Twenty-two adults (^18 years of age) who had asthma or were household caretakers of children with asthma participated; one workshop included nine participants, the other 13 participants. Self-reported asthma diagnosis was confirmed by the patient’s medication prescription. The participants were invited through flyers and word of mouth in community centers. Interested parties voluntarily contacted the project director in order to participate. The University at Buffalo’s institutional review board approved this project.
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Posted by James
Study findings reflect the participants’ lay conceptualizations, principal misgivings, coping strategies and basic misconceptions about asthma. These are presented here as themes: 1) deceiving nature of asthma; 2) household environment triggers; 3) lifestyle restrictions; 4) emergency department use; 5) medication use and side effects, and 6) coping strategies (Table 2). These themes are to be viewed as interrelated. A thematic narrative of the findings follows below.
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