Supporting choices about HIV disclosure in the workplace: A cross-Canada survey of strategies.

BACKGROUND: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often make highly personal decisions about whether or not to disclose their HIV status in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine current practices that support people living with HIV to make workplace disclosure decisions and to understand factors that affect disclosure decision-making. METHODS: Ninety-four people who provide health, social and peer-based services responded to an on-line survey about their experiences supporting workplace disclosure decisions of employees living with HIV. RESULTS: Respondents identified a range of strategies to support workplace disclosure decision-making. One-third of respondents were only a little or not confident in their abilities to support people in making disclosure decisions and 32% expressed little or no confidence in the resources available. Respondents working at HIV-specific organizations, as compared to respondents not working at those organizations, were more confident supporting people with disclosure decisions and in available resources, p < .05. Perceived barriers to disclosure decisions included stigma, lack of knowledge, and personal factors. Supports for decision-making resided within personal, workplace and societal contexts. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides important understanding about the complexity of disclosure decision-making and strategies that people living with HIV can use to address this complex issue.

Collaborative priority setting for human immunodeficiency virus rehabilitation research: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The inclusion of community members and other stakeholders in the establishment of research priorities is vital to ensuring that priorities are congruent with the main concerns of affected communities. PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to identify priority research topics for addressing the activity and community participation needs of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and meaningfully involve multiple stakeholders in the development of those priorities. METHOD: We invited people living with HIV, researchers, service providers, and policy makers to a 2-day forum. Twenty-six people participated in developing priorities through the application of two methodologies, the World Café and Dotmocracy. We evaluated the forum though immediate dialogue and a postproject survey. FINDINGS: Participants identified 10 high-priority research topics. Evaluation findings highlighted positive substantive, instrumental, personal, and normative outcomes of stakeholder involvement. IMPLICATIONS: The identified priority topics can guide future occupational therapy practice and research in this emerging area.