title: Understandings of Participation in Behavioural Research: A Qualitative Study of Gay and Bisexual Men in Scotland.
abstract: An array of empirical research has emerged related to public participation in health research. To date, few studies have explored the particular perspectives of gay and bisexual men taking part in behavioural surveillance research, which includes the donation of saliva swabs to investigate HIV prevalence and rates of undiagnosed HIV. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-nine gay and bisexual men in Scotland who had participated in a bar-based survey. Thematic analysis of men's accounts of their motives for participation and their perceptions of not receiving individual feedback on HIV status suggested a shared understanding of participation in research as a means of contributing to 'community' efforts to prevent the spread of HIV. Most men expressed sophisticated understandings of the purpose of behavioural research and distinguished between this and individual diagnostic testing. Despite calls for feedback on HIV results broadly, for these men feedback on HIV status was not deemed crucial.
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boydell
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gillian May
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fergie
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa Margaret
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McDaid
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hilton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001727:Bisexuality; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012606:Scotland; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult