This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.GoalThe principal goal of this proposal is to understand some of the reasons Puerto Rican patients with HIV infection are diagnosed late in the course of their disease or are initiated late on effective antiretroviral therapy.
Specific Aims of this Project are to:1. Determine if HIV related perceived stigma is a factor in delaying diagnosis for Puerto Rican patients living with HIV/AIDS.2. Determine whether Depression is associated with a delay in diagnosis in patients with HIV/AIDS. 3. Document the needs of patients with HIV infection in our community. We will compare the needs assessment of early vs. late presenters.SignificanceWe will describe and characterize early and late presenters to the HIV clinics of our institution. The study will consist of applying three questionnaires to the patients. One will be a module of perceived stigma developed by the CCHD in the Ponce School of Medicine. The second will be the Beck Depression inventory Scale and the Third will be a module of needs assessment and medication compliance developed by the Retrovirus Research Center. We will explore the association of these factors with the delay of utilization of health care services by persons living with HIV/AIDS.DescriptionThis study will be of a cross-sectional stratified analysis of all new patients that are initially seen in our institution. We anticipate the recruitment of at least 50 patients that will be categorized as early and another fifty that will be late presenters. The study will be conducted over a period of 12 months from May, 2007-June 30, 2008. A total of four questionnaires will be administered to the patients at study entry, enrolling patients during the first 7 months of study entry. A period of 2 months has been allowed for quality analysis, data assessments and manuscript. The latter 2 months will be used for analysis and manuscript and abstract preparation and presentation.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications
