Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDs epidemic in the United States, minorities have been disproportionately affected and represent the majority of people newly infected and living with the disease.1,2 To illustrate, there are more than 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the US but 506,000 of these people are black.3 In 2010, blacks accounted for 44% of new HIV infections and Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 21% of the new HIV infections compared to whites.4 In an effort to mitigate the burden of HIV/AIDS, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has been made available to HIV infected individuals. This has led to improved quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDs and has transformed the course of HIV/AIDS from a progressive fatal disease
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I am conducting a study for my Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods class and would appreciate if I can meet with you. I am conducting interviews with 3 healthcare providers at Thomas Street Health Center to better understand current barriers to patient retention at your facility and suggestions on how to improve HIV patients’ retention to care. The interview will be recorded and will last no more than 30 minutes. Your responses will be confidential and anonymous. Because this is a class project, data from this study will not be published but will help me get a better understanding of the subject matter. I hope that you will consider participating in this project. I can be reached at richlyn.k.yond@uth.tmc.edu if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Richlyn Yond
Script:
Me: Hello Dr.____. Thanks for allowing me to interview you today. I really appreciate your time.
Me: How are you today?
Me: That’s good to hear, I am doing fine as well.
Me: So as I said in the email, I am conducting this study to better understand current barriers to patient retention at TSHC and suggestions on how to improve HIV patients’ retention to care. This interview will last less than 30 minutes and it will be recorded.
Me: Are you okay with the interview being recorded?
Me: Great! Let’s get started then.
**Turns on recorder**
Interview Questions:
1) Can you tell me about your role here?
(prompt: Please tell me about your experience working with the minority patient population at Thomas
I am conducting a study for my Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods class and would appreciate if I can meet with you. I am conducting interviews with 3 healthcare providers at Thomas Street Health Center to better understand current barriers to patient retention at your facility and suggestions on how to improve HIV patients’ retention to care. The interview will be recorded and will last no more than 30 minutes. Your responses will be confidential and anonymous. Because this is a class project, data from this study will not be published but will help me get a better understanding of the subject matter. I hope that you will consider participating in this project. I can be reached at richlyn.k.yond@uth.tmc.edu if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Richlyn Yond
Script:
Me: Hello Dr.____. Thanks for allowing me to interview you today. I really appreciate your time.
Me: How are you today?
Me: That’s good to hear, I am doing fine as well.
Me: So as I said in the email, I am conducting this study to better understand current barriers to patient retention at TSHC and suggestions on how to improve HIV patients’ retention to care. This interview will last less than 30 minutes and it will be recorded.
Me: Are you okay with the interview being recorded?
Me: Great! Let’s get started then.
**Turns on recorder**
Interview Questions:
1) Can you tell me about your role here?
(prompt: Please tell me about your experience working with the minority patient population at Thomas