title: Perceptions of HAART among gay men who declined a treatment offer: preliminary results from an interview-based study.
abstract: As part of a prospective study of treatment decision making among people with HIV infection, we explored perceptions of HAART in a cohort who declined a treatment offer. This was a qualitative study in which 26 gay men were interviewed in relation to their views about HAART soon after treatment was recommended by their HIV physician. Fifteen themes were associated with the decision to decline HAART. These were grouped under three broad categories: doubts about personal necessity for HAART, concerns about potential adverse effects of taking HAART and satisfaction with the amount of personal control over the decision. These findings provide new insights into the type of beliefs that might inform people's evaluation of their perceived need for HAART and their concerns about HAART. Initiatives to support informed decisions should take account of these perceptions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Care Research, University of Brighton, UK. v.l.cooper@brighton.ac.uk
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buick
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gellaitry
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leake
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*