15th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association 1-3 April 2009, Liverpool, UK

CONFLICTING NEEDS: INVESTIGATING PATIENT PREFERENCES IN THE DESIGN OF A NEW HIV/SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC SERVING AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE POPULATION

HIV Med 2009 Apr 1-3 (Suppl 1);15:16 (abstract no. P6)

V Harrison, M Fadojutimi, J Anderson and I Reeves
Homerton University Hospital, London, UK

BACKGROUND: Patient involvement in the planning and delivery of services is a priority for the health service. Historically, HIV services have grown within pre-existing services as patient cohorts develop. Our objective was to conduct a patient survey to help design a planned new HIV/Sexual Health clinic at our site, serving an ethnically diverse, socioeconomically deprived population.

METHODS: Patients attending the existing HIV service were asked to complete a questionnaire investigating preferences concerning clinic environment and service provision. Questions were designed to probe issues around stigma and confidentiality, and most used a Likert scale to indicate degree of agreement with statements.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients provided responses of which 38% were African. Ninety percent agreed the building/environment should maintain their confidentiality, whilst 51% did not want separate entrances/ services for HIV and GUM. The majority agreed building name should not relate to department work (59%) and waiting areas/receptions for HIV and GUM should not be separated (59% and 71% respectively). In contrast 65% wanted to access HIV information in waiting areas, 43% want to talk to other patients in waiting areas and 75% preferred them divided by gender. There was a strong preference for additional service provision in the clinic. At least 54% wanted extra clinical services and 68% or more non-clinical services e.g. immigration advice.

CONCLUSIONS: Patient preferences were conflicting as they stressed the importance of maintaining confidentiality through environmental design e.g. joint entrances/waiting areas, yet they also wanted to access HIV specific information and talk to other patients within this space. The positive response to the provision of non-clinical services e.g. housing advice and waiting areas separated by gender highlights the social need and diversity of this population, where HIV is only part of a complex of needs. These findings indicate the importance of involving patients and understanding their needs within service design.

2009-04-01
P6

Copyright © 2009 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD