Reducing internalized HIV stigma with Intervention Mapping: the design, implementation, and evaluation of RESET...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Intervention Science

Background:

• HIV remains a highly stigmatized condition, leading to internalized negative beliefs among individuals living with HIV.
• Internalized stigma significantly impacts the well-being and health outcomes of people with HIV.
• Developing effective interventions to combat internalized HIV stigma is crucial for improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of the RESET intervention.
• To reduce internalized HIV stigma among people with HIV in the Netherlands.
• To demonstrate the utility of Intervention Mapping in developing stigma-reduction interventions.

Main Methods:

• The RESET intervention utilized a face-to-face, three-session workshop format.
• Intervention Mapping, a systematic, theory- and evidence-based approach, guided the intervention development process.
• The development involved six key steps: needs assessment, specifying outcomes, intervention design, production/pre-testing, implementation planning, and evaluation planning.

Main Results:

• The paper details the application of each step of Intervention Mapping in the development of RESET.
• It highlights both the successes and challenges encountered during the intervention's design and implementation.
• The study provides a transparent account of the intervention development process.

Conclusions:

• The RESET intervention, developed using Intervention Mapping, shows promise in reducing internalized HIV stigma.
• Intervention Mapping is a valuable framework for creating evidence-based behavioral interventions, particularly for complex issues like stigma.
• This approach can be adapted to develop effective interventions for various stigma-related challenges.