Perceived Changes in Body Habitus and Body Image Among HIV+ Persons Currently Receiving or Recently Discontinuing Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

A valid measure of body image would be useful for AACTG studies. Such a measure might permit investigators to examine dissatisfaction with body image as a predictor variable in analyses of premature study drug discontinuation, loss to follow-up, and study drug non-adherence, and as a secondary outcome in antiretroviral and fat redistribution treatment trials.

Six focus group interviews, each lasting approximately 2 hours, are conducted at 4 AACTG sites. Separate groups are run for men and women, and male groups are segmented by sexual orientation. A moderator leads discussions about patients' perceived changes in body habitus and body image. Group interviews are audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative interview data are sent electronically to the Data Management Center, where they are thematically analyzed using qualitative data analysis (content analysis) techniques. Salient focus group findings are used to construct questionnaire items.