Violence and PTSD screening implementation in southeastern Ryan White settings: current practices and staff...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• HIV/AIDS Research
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Violence and PTSD are common in people with HIV (PWH), negatively impacting HIV care.
• Screening for these issues connects PWH to vital support services.
• Screening implementation in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) settings is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the implementation of violence and PTSD screening in RWHAP settings.
• To identify current practices, barriers, and facilitators of screening.
• To inform strategies for effective screening implementation.

Main Methods:

• Conducted key informant interviews with 39 staff, providers, and administrators from 34 RWHAP clinics across eight southeastern US states.
• Utilized rapid qualitative analysis to analyze interview data.
• Focused on screening for intimate partner violence, general violence, and PTSD.

Main Results:

• Screening practices varied; about half of settings screened for intimate partner violence.
• Most participants viewed universal screening as important and acceptable.
• Key barriers included time constraints and staff burden; facilitators included brief screeners, staff training, intake screening, and clear referral protocols.

Conclusions:

• Effective violence/PTSD screening implementation requires staff training, clear follow-up processes, and addressing time/staffing constraints.
• Aligning strategies with staff recommendations supports trauma-informed care.
• Improved screening can enhance HIV care outcomes and PWH well-being.