Operational research to improve HIV prevention in the United States.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States continues despite several recent noteworthy advances in HIV prevention. Contemporary approaches to HIV prevention involve implementing combinations of biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions in novel ways to achieve high levels of impact on the epidemic. Methods are needed to develop optimal combinations of approaches for improving efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability. This article argues that operational research offers promise as a valuable tool for addressing these issues. We define operational research relative to domestic HIV prevention, identify and illustrate how operational research can improve HIV prevention, and pose a series of questions to guide future operational research. Operational research can help achieve national HIV prevention goals of reducing new infections, improving access to care and optimization of health outcomes of people living with HIV, and reducing HIV-related health disparities.
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP), National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. jherbst@cdc.gov
Jeffrey H
JH
Herbst
Marlene
M
Glassman
James W
JW
Carey
Thomas M
TM
Painter
Deborah J
DJ
Gelaude
Amy M
AM
Fasula
Jerris L
JL
Raiford
Arin E
AE
Freeman
Camilla
C
Harshbarger
Abigail H
AH
Viall
David W
DW
Purcell
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009874:Operations Research; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents