Article

Willingness to participate in South African HIV vaccine trials - Concerns of medical professionals in the Western Cape

DOI:10019.1/7154
Source: OAI

ABSTRACT Objectives. To evaluate the willingness of medical doctors working at a tertiary hospital to participate in HIV vaccine trials, their perceptions of patients' willingness to participate, and the major reasons underlying these views. Design. A self-administered, anonymous postal survey conducted in two rounds between May and July 2001. Setting. A tertiary care hospital in the Western Cape. Subjects. All medical doctors listed on the hospital's staff directory. Outcome measures. Willingness to participate in, and to recruit patients into, HIV vaccine trials, and the reasons for this. Results and conclusions. Of the 289 individuals surveyed, 80% stated either that they would not be willing to participate in HIV vaccine trials or that they were unsure about their participation. Meanwhile, 37% stated that they would be willing to recruit patients into vaccine trials. The most common concerns with trial participation were the possibility of vaccine-induced infection and the possibility of testing positive for antibodies to HIV. The surprisingly low level of willingness to participate in trials in this sample of medical professionals highlights the importance of preparatory work to overcome substantial barriers to HIV vaccine trial participation. Article

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    Article: Socio-behaviour challenges to phase III HIV vaccine trials in Sub-Saharan Africa.
    Joalida Smit, Keren Middelkoop, Landon Myer, Graham Lindegger, Leslie Swartz, Soraya Seedat, Tim Tucker, Robin Wood, Linda-Gail Bekker, Dan J Stein
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: A number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are preparing for HIV vaccine efficacy trials. Social and behavioural factors related to HIV transmission require examination in each setting where these trials are considered. As part of this, several countries have also recently begun preparatory research investigating relevant social and behavioural issues. There is a need for a review of the literature to help focus such research efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. To examine key social and behavioural issues that may impact on the conduct of HIV vaccine efficacy trials in sub-Saharan Africa. Literature review Major databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, EBSCOhost, and AIDSline) were searched for literature that discussed social and behavioural issues related to HIV vaccine trials. Three areas are highlighted as being particularly significant for HIV vaccine research: (1) willingness to participate in future HIV vaccine efficacy trials, (2) retention of participants in studies, and (3) sexual risk reporting during trials. For each of these topics, major findings from both developed and developing countries are described and avenues for further research are discussed. There are few data from Sub-Saharan Africa regarding willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials. Data on participant retention rates varies widely, and maintaining large cohorts of individuals within Phase III trials presents an important challenge. In addition, the possible impact of trial participation on sexual disinhibition, and response bias on sexual risk-reporting remain as issues for HIV vaccine trials in African contexts. Social and behavioural research forms an important part of preparations for HIV vaccine efficacy trials, and there is a clear need for more research of this type in Sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative approaches are required to address issues such as willingness to participate in vaccine research, participant retention during efficacy trials, and the accurate reporting by participants of sexual risk behaviours.
    African health sciences 10/2005; 5(3):198-206.
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Keywords

289 individuals
 
anonymous postal survey
 
common concerns
 
HIV
 
HIV vaccine trial participation
 
HIV vaccine trials
 
hospital's staff directory
 
major reasons
 
medical doctors
 
patients' willingness
 
perceptions
 
substantial barriers
 
tertiary care hospital
 
tertiary hospital
 
testing positive
 
trial participation
 
trials
 
vaccine trials
 
vaccine-induced infection
 
Western Cape