Assessing HIV-related stigma in the clinical setting: are providers in Florida interested?

ABSTRACT

HIV-related stigma is a key contributor to poor HIV-related health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to explore implementing a stigma measure into routine HIV care focusing on the 10-item Medical Monitoring Project measure as a proposed measure. Healthcare providers engaged in HIV-related care in Florida were recruited. Participants completed an interview about their perceptions of measures to assess stigma during clinical care. The analysis followed a directed content approach. Fifteen participants completed the interviews (87% female, 47% non-Hispanic White, case manager 40%). Most providers thought that talking about stigma would be helpful (89%). Three major themes emerged from the analysis: acceptability, subscales of interest, and utility. In acceptability, participants mentioned that assessing stigma could encourage patient-centered care and serve as a conversation starter, but some mentioned not having enough time. Participants thought that the disclosure concerns and negative self-image subscales were most relevant. Some worried they would not have resources for patients or that some issues were beyond their influence. Participants were generally supportive of routinely addressing HIV-related stigma in clinical care, but were concerned that resources, especially to address concerns about disclosure and negative self-image, were not available.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• stigma
• healthcare
• mental health
• screening

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, RFH. The data are not publicly available due to participants not providing informed consent for the interview transcripts to be shared publicly.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Florida Department of Health under contracts CODUS and CODRU and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism under grant F31AA030518.