Research Proposal on HIV Prevention and Treatment Strategies Dissertation Sample

Chapter one: introduction To HIV Prevention and Treatment Strategies: A Comprehensive Research Proposal

Research Issue

This research focuses on HIV, titled "Enhancing HIV Prevention and Treatment Strategies."

Background of the Research

AIDS caused by HIV continues to be a global health emergency. Over 680,000 individuals will die from AIDS-related causes in 2020, which would see 38 million people living with HIV (WHO, 2023). Successes like antiretroviral treatment have been achieved in the history of HIV/AIDS research, but there have also been enduring difficulties including access problems, delayed diagnosis, medication resistance, as well as stigma (Bekker, 2018). Remarkable accomplishments in HIV/AIDS research history include the creation of antiretroviral treatment (ART), which changed HIV from a fatal illness to a chronic manageable condition. However, issues including poor access to preventative measures, delayed HIV diagnoses, treatment resistance, and ongoing stigma and prejudice still exist.

Aims/ Objectives/ research questions

This study tries to

• Assess current HIV prevention tactics and pinpoint any shortcomings.
• Evaluate the results of HIV therapy as well as research novel ideas.
• Create guidelines for HIV prevention as well as treatment that are supported by evidence.

These are the research queries:

• What are the main problems with the existing HIV preventive methods?
• How may the results of HIV therapy be enhanced?
• What novel strategies for treating and preventing HIV have promise?

Rationale/Justification of the Research

The ongoing importance of HIV as a worldwide health emergency serves as the foundation for this study proposal. Despite significant advancements, HIV still has a disproportionately negative impact on communities, and there are still many obstacles to effective prevention and treatment. Furthermore, continual research and strategy adaption are necessary due to the changing healthcare sector, societal dynamics, and developing infectious illnesses. Policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers should be informed by the study's findings, which will eventually help to improve HIV prevention and treatment strategies and the global fight against HIV/AIDS (NLM, 2022).

Chapter two: Literature review

Broad Review of the Research Topic

Using a variety of particular academic resources, this literature study will give an in-depth overview of HIV prevention and treatment options.

HIV Prevention Strategies

According to Monique S. Balthazar(2021), HIV prevention has changed dramatically over time. Early campaigns mainly aimed to spread knowledge of the virus and encourage healthy sex practises (Balthazar, 2021). However as pointed out by Jayanta Bhattacharya(2018), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be effective in lowering the risk of HIV transmission among high-risk populations, according to a significant study titled "Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in Men Who Have Sex with Men" (iPrEx) that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in (Bhattacharya, 2018)2018. Also, Reinhard H. Dennin(2015), in his study explained that with the help of this ground-breaking study, PrEP has become a widely used preventative tactic (Denninm, 2015). Additionally, a study titled "Global PrEP Use Among People at Risk of HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis," which was published in JAMA Network Open in 2019, gave a thorough summary of PrEP uptake globally. It emphasised the necessity for targeted interventions to close gaps by highlighting the different degrees of PrEP availability and utilisation (Ong, 2019).

Challenges and Gaps in HIV Prevention

Considering PrEP's effectiveness, the research suggests ongoing problems. According to a 2017 PLOS Medicine article titled "Barriers and Facilitators to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Eligibility Screening and Acceptance Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Paris, France," barriers like stigma, cost, and insufficient healthcare provider knowledge prevented the uptake of PrEP. These results highlight the necessity for customised solutions to overcome these obstacles (Mbengo, 2022).

HIV Treatment Strategies

A major focus of HIV research has been the development of therapeutic approaches. Findings from the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) study were published in a landmark publication titled "Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy in Early Asymptomatic HIV Infection" in The Lancet in 2015. This study changed recommendations to encourage early treatment since it showed that antiretroviral medication (ART) started early considerably decreased the risk of AIDS-related events (UNAIDS, 2014).

Challenges and Gaps in HIV Treatment

ART has had a transforming effect, yet obstacles still exist. The study, "Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among People with HIV in the United States," was published in JAMA Network Open in 2020. It found that low ART adherence was linked to worse health outcomes and viral rebound. The significance of efforts to improve treatment adherence is emphasised by these findings (Mbengo, 2022).

Innovations in HIV Research

Recent studies have placed a crucial emphasis on advancements in HIV research. The most recent developments in HIV vaccine research, including innovative vaccine candidates and strategies like mosaic vaccines, were covered in a review paper in Nature Reviews Immunology titled "Advances in HIV-1 Vaccine Development". This shows that attempts to create a secure and reliable HIV vaccine are underway (Miller, 2021).

Stigma and Discrimination

HIV prevention and treatment efforts continue to be hampered by discrimination and stigma. The impact of stigma on PrEP adherence was examined in an article published in AIDS and Behaviour titled "The Impact of HIV-Related Stigma on PrEP Disclosure and Adherence Among Young Black Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex with Men," which emphasised the need for interventions that address both structural and individual stigma (Felsher, 2021).

Identifying Gaps in the Literature

There are a number of obvious gaps in the body of knowledge on HIV preventive and treatment methods. First, particularly among marginalised communities, there is a dearth of thorough research that explores the underlying causes of uneven access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Studies have shown differences, but more research is required to fully understand the complex elements that contribute to this discrepancy. Second, there is little information in the literature about creative and situation-specific approaches to improving adherence to HIV treatment regimens. It is critical to conduct a more complete analysis of targeted therapies that address both personal and systemic challenges to adherence. Thirdly, more investigation is needed to examine the advantages and difficulties of combining HIV services with other types of healthcare treatments to provide comprehensive care for people living with HIV.

Chapter three: Research methodology

In order to properly perform secondary research for this study on HIV prevention and treatment techniques, it is essential to describe the methodology that was used, examine its advantages and disadvantages in light of the pertinent literature, and explain why this methodology was chosen.

Methodological Approach: Secondary Research vs. Primary Research

While primary research comprises gathering fresh data directly from individuals or sources, secondary research entails gathering, analysing, and synthesising existing data and literature to solve research concerns. Due to a number of factors, secondary research was chosen as the method for this study. First of all, secondary research is a great source of knowledge since HIV research is a well-established area with a substantial body of literature. Second, primary research may be time-consuming, resource-intensive, and morally challenging, particularly when it involves using human beings. Thirdly, secondary research enables a thorough analysis of previous research, providing a wider viewpoint on the issue (Hox, 2015).

Strengths of Secondary Research Supported by Literature

Secondary research has a number of advantages that are backed by pertinent literature. Because it makes use of already-available data, it is economical (Ghauri and Grnhaug, 2010). Additionally, it enables researchers to expand their investigations over longer time frames and cover a wider geographic range (Saunders and Thornhill, 2019). Additionally, secondary research makes it easier to combine several studies and identify trends, patterns, and gaps (Hart, 1998). It enables wide access to historical data and studies and permits a thorough examination of global patterns in the context of HIV research (Smith, 2014).

Limitations of Secondary Research Supported by Literature

Secondary research has its own setbacks. It is dependent on the reliability and accessibility of current data, which may be contradictory or lacking (Machi and McEvoy, 2016). Due to the limited control researchers may have over the data gathering procedure, bias may result (Bryman and Bell, 2015). Furthermore, there's a chance of obsolete information, especially in industries that change quickly, like healthcare (Creswell,2017). Secondary data sources may not completely reflect recent advancements or developing patterns in HIV research (Borenstein et al., 2009).

Justification for Selected Methodology Approach

The selection of secondary research as the methodology approach is justified based on the specific characteristics of the HIV research field. HIV is a well-studied and continually evolving area with a vast body of literature. Employing secondary research allows for a comprehensive review of existing knowledge, identification of gaps, and synthesis of diverse findings. Moreover, conducting primary research in the context of HIV can raise ethical concerns and resource challenges, which can be effectively addressed through secondary research.

Literature Search Strategy

To conduct an extensive literature search for this exploration of HIV prevention and treatment strategies, an organized methodology will be utilized to guarantee the recovery of significant scholarly articles and reports. The accompanying parts frame the system:

Search Engines and Academic Databases

• PubMed: PubMed is a generally perceived and legitimate hotspot for biomedical writing. It contains an immense store of HIV-related research articles and diaries.
• Web of Science: Web of Science admits an expansive scope of scholarly disciplines, including medical care and life sciences. It offers broad inclusion of HIV research writing.
• Google Researcher: Google Researcher is a flexible web crawler that incorporates many scholarly sources, including diary articles, meeting papers, and reports. It is precious for finding dim writing.

Organizations and Institutions

A few respectable associations and establishments gaining practical experience in HIV exploration will be referred to for pertinent writing:

• World Health Organization (WHO): WHO distributes complete reports and rules on HIV counteraction and treatment procedures, which are significant assets.
• The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): UNAIDS produces reports and distributions that give experiences into worldwide HIV patterns and methodologies.
• Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC offers important information and examination on HIV anticipation and treatment procedures, particularly concerning general well-being drives in the US.

Keywords and Boolean Operators

• Keywords: HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, prevention, treatment, antiretroviral therapy, PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, stigma, discrimination, vaccine development, HIV cure, global trends.
• Boolean Operators: Boolean operators such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT" will be used to refine search queries.

Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria and Search Strategy

Inclusion Criteria

• Relevance: Studies included ought to straightforwardly address HIV counteraction and treatment methodologies, including yet not restricted to avoidance techniques (e.g., PrEP, condom use), treatment draws near (e.g., antiretroviral treatment), and related intercessions (e.g., s stigma reduction programs).
• Publication Type: Peer-reviewed journal articles, gathering papers, precise surveys, and reports from legitimate associations (e.g., WHO, UNAIDS) will be thought of.
• Time: Studies distributed from the year 2015 onwards will be incorporated to guarantee the importance to contemporary HIV counteraction and treatment rehearses.

Exclusion Criteria

• Studies not directly connected with HIV anticipation and treatment procedures will be avoided.
• Grey literature, unpublished papers, and non-peer-surveyed sources will be rejected to keep up with the thoroughness of the audit.
• Studies published before 2015 will be prohibited, as they may not reflect current practices and mediations
• Articles distributed in dialects other than English will be prohibited because of language constraints(Miller, 2021).

Preliminary Search Strategy

To find relevant literature, the initial search technique will use keywords and Boolean operators. Example search words can be "HIV AND prevention OR PrEP," which would extend the search to include HIV preventative measures.

Study Selection Process

• Initial Screening: To discover potentially pertinent research, all retrieved publications will go through an initial screening based on their titles and abstracts.
• Review of the entire Text: To make sure the chosen articles fit the requirements for inclusion, the entire texts of those articles will be examined.
• Quality Control: The methodological quality of the chosen studies will be evaluated. This evaluation will include the sample size, data gathering techniques, research design, and potential bias.
• Data Extraction: Key findings, techniques, and results from the listed studies' pertinent data will all be methodically retrieved.
• Synthesis: To answer the study objectives and research issues, a synthesis of the information from the chosen studies will be done(Creswell,2017).

Data Analysis & Synthesis Methods

Thematic analysis is a methodical methodology that will be used for the data analysis and synthesis in this research proposal on HIV prevention and treatment strategies. Thematic analysis is chosen because it provides a flexible and thorough way to find recurrent patterns, themes, and important insights across a wide range of data sources, including both qualitative and quantitative studies, as well as recommendations and reports from reputable organisations (Braun and Clarke, 2016). By using this approach, the study topic will be understood in a systematic and comprehensive way. The procedure will start with an in-depth analysis of the chosen literature to build familiarity with the subject matter. Then, using a methodical coding procedure, important themes, patterns, and pertinent discoveries will be found and categorised across the literature. The core of the study issue will be captured by grouping these codes into broad themes. The synthesised themes will serve as the framework for creating a cohesive story that adequately responds to the study's goals and open-ended questions. The interpretive step will also enable meaningful findings, the formulation of proposal based on evidence, and the identification of research needs for future investigation. In the end, the use of theme analysis will provide a solid and organised synthesis of the vast body of information on HIV preventive and treatment options, helping the creation of knowledgeable decisions.

Ethical procedure

Guaranteeing ethical procedures in this exploration includes maintaining academic works on, shielding against literary theft, distortion, and information deception. Moral uprightness is central while evaluating research, regarding the freedoms, privacy, nobility, and variety of people included. Ethical approval will be looked for from the fitting institutional audit board or morals council to ensure that the exploration is directed as per laid out moral principles and guidelines. This obligation to moral direction supports the validity and trustworthiness of the examination interaction.

Research timeline

This timetable, which runs from November 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024, gives precise dates for each stage of the research endeavour. It makes sure that assignments are spread out across the allotted time periods, allowing for systematic progress tracking and timely accomplishment of research goals and objectives.

References

• Balthazar, M. S., 2021. Methods and Approaches to HIV Prevention. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care, 28(1), p. 19–24.
• Bekker, L.-G., 2018. Advancing global health and strengthening the HIV response in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals: the International AIDS Society—Lancet Commission. Lancet., 392(10144), p. 312–358.
• Bhattacharya, J., 2018. HIV prevention & treatment strategies - Current challenges & future prospects. Indian J Med Res, 147(6), p. 671–674.
• Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2015). Business research methods. Oxford University Press.
• Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009). Introduction to meta-analysis. John Wiley & Sons.
• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
• Denninm, R. H., 2015. The Current HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies—Widely Outsmarted by Omitting Realities: A Socio-Critical Analysis in the Context of Powerless Law, Ethics and Asymmetric Interpretation of Human Rights, s.l.: Centre for European and International Criminal Law Studies.
• Felsher, M., 2021. The Influence of PrEP-Related Stigma and Social Support on PrEP-Use Disclosure among Women Who Inject Drugs and Social Network Members. AIDS Behav, 25(12), p. 3922–3932.
• Ghauri, P., & Grønhaug, K. (2010). Research methods in business studies: A practical guide. Pearson Education.
• Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination. Sage publications.
• Hox, J., 2015. Data collection, primary versus secondary, s.l.: Utrecht University.
• Mbengo, F., 2022. Barriers and facilitators to HIV prevention interventions for reducing risky sexual behavior among youth worldwide: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis, 22(679).
• Miller, R. L., 2021. Innovation in HIV Prevention: Organizational and Intervention Characteristics Affecting Program Adoption. American Journal of Community Psychology, 29(4), pp. 621-47.
• Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2016). The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin Press.
• NLM, 2022. Addressing Continuous Threats: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Global Health and the Future Role of the United States.
• Ong, J. J., 2019. Global Epidemiologic Characteristics of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Individuals Using Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open, 2(12).
• UNAIDS, 2014. An ambitious treatment target to help end the AIDS epidemic, s.l.: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
• Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students. Pearson.
• Smith, M. J. (2014). Research methods in accounting. Sage publications.
• WHO, 2023. HIV and AIDS. [Online]
  Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
  [Accessed 06 October 2023].