Role of the Internet in Care Initiation by People Living With HIV.
Joseph Perazzo, Stephen Haas, Allison Webel and 1 others
PMID 27686871WHAT IT FOUND
People newly diagnosed with HIV used the Internet to interpret symptoms, find care, compare lab results, research medications, and gain hope.
It also led some to delay care after outdated or misleading online information.
Key findings
01Repeated online symptom searches that showed HIV as a possible cause prompted participants to seek HIV testing.
02Participants used online medication information to prepare questions and preferences for discussions with providers.
03A participant delayed HIV care for approximately one year after reading an outdated online treatment guideline.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The analysis used interviews from an HIV intake center and only 23 of 30 participants discussed Internet use. The sample had limited representation of women and racial/ethnic minorities, so themes may not generalize. Participants varied from less than one month to three years since diagnosis, so experiences were not tied to a fixed time after diagnosis. Findings are self-reported themes about Internet use, not measured effects on care initiation, adherence, or health outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that online information improves HIV care. The paper also describes delayed care after outdated online information.