Employment-related concerns of HIV-positive people in the Netherlands: input for a multidisciplinary guideline

M N Wagener, S E M van Opstal, H S Miedema, Dees P. M. Brandjes, R Dahmen, E C M van Gorp, P D D M Roelofs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Finding and keeping employment is difficult for people with HIV. To improve supportive care for people with HIV and employment-related problems, a multidisciplinary guideline was developed in the Netherlands in 2010/2011. To identify the employment-related concerns of people with HIV and to formulate the key questions for the guideline, we conducted a qualitative study. The results of this study are described in this article.

METHODS: This study was performed in three HIV-treatment centers in the Netherlands. In total 18 participants participated in three focus-group interviews and nine participants were interviewed individually. The data were transcribed ad verbatim and were analyzed according to the principle of constant comparison.

RESULTS: Our findings indicate that people with HIV in the Netherlands face many work-related concerns. The themes which emerged from this study were disclosure, stigma and discrimination, knowledge about HIV, physical and psychological factors, working conditions, absenteeism, reintegration, and dismissal and counselling.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into employment-related concerns for people with HIV living in a Western country. It formed the basis for the key questions which were addressed in a multidisciplinary, evidence-based guideline "HIV and work". Finally, it gives leads for further scientific research and opportunities for improving the vocational guidance of people with HIV.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)790-7
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8-May-2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Absenteeism
  • Anti-HIV Agents/adverse effects
  • Counseling
  • Disclosure
  • Employment/psychology
  • Fatigue/virology
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • HIV Seropositivity/complications
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Netherlands
  • Prejudice
  • Qualitative Research
  • Social Stigma
  • Workplace

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