Publications
Using Focus Group Feedback to Identify Patient-Centered Initiatives for Older Persons with HIV
2020
Burchett, C. O., Shen, M. J., Freeman, R., Seidel, L., Karpiak, S., Brennan-Ing, M., & Siegler, E. L. (2020): Using focus group feedback to identify patient-centered initiatives for older persons with HIV. Clinical Gerontologist. http://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2020.1769245
Mark Brennan-Ing
Objectives: This study assessed how few community-based programs target older people living
with HIV.
Methods: We conducted four focus groups comprised of people 50 and older with HIV (N = 32;
gay/bisexual men, heterosexual men, women, and Spanish-speakers) to inform HIV program
development by exploring the services in which participants were actively involved, along with
the services they wanted to receive.
Results: Using inductive thematic qualitative analysis, four themes were identified pertaining to
program development: (a) types of currently utilized HIV service organizations; (b) dissatisfaction
with HIV programming and services; (c) participants’ preferred programming, courses, groups, or
activities; and (d) desire to serve as peer mentors.
Conclusions: Results highlight the need for community-based organizations to address social
engagement and isolation among older people living with HIV.
Clinical implications: These findings exemplify the need for programs to be specifically designed
for OPH, and created with the primary goals of socialization and helping develop social support
networks.