NEW HIV STUDY HELPS WOMENNew HIV
Study Helps Women And People Of Color Get Support
And Access To Care |
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(NAPSI)-When 52-year-old Gwen was diagnosed with HIV in 1990, she had few
treatment options and even fewer people to talk to about what she was going
through. Today, her experience is very different. A black woman living in Gwen's story is not unique. In the • Women account for more than one-quarter of new HIV/ AIDS cases; • • Sixty-five percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are people of color. Despite these numbers, very few women and people of color participate in HIV clinical trials, the studies that help us learn more about treatment, often due to barriers such as availability of child care, lack of transportation, cost of treatment and stigma. A new study, known as GRACE (Gender, Race And Clinical Experience), was designed with these challenges in mind. GRACE examined gender differences in response to a specific HIV medication among people who had previously taken HIV medications. It showed that large numbers of women and people of color can be successfully enrolled in U.S. HIV studies. Gwen is one of 287 women who participated in the GRACE study. Throughout the trial, she experienced a supportive environment where she could ask questions and talk openly about living with HIV. She also developed close bonds with other patients and staff, including Dr. Kathleen Squires, professor of medicine, Jefferson Medical College, and director, Division of Infectious Diseases at Thomas Jefferson University. "The GRACE study is important because we need to learn more about the factors that may affect how people respond to HIV treatment, including race and gender, access to care and the society in which they live," said Dr. Squires. "It's critical that we examine treatment response through each of these lenses so we can improve patient outcomes in the future." When designing GRACE, Tibotec Therapeutics Clinical Affairs, a division of Centocor Ortho Biotech Services, assembled a panel of doctors and advocates to talk about ways to enroll women and people of color in a new HIV trial. As a result, the GRACE study offered the following to its participants: • Support to cover participation costs, including assistance for travel and childcare; • Several medications used in the study provided at no cost; • Group support activities such as lunch-and-learn sessions and patient groups. Gwen credits these offerings with helping her decide to join and remain in the study. "Having a support system is critical when you're living with HIV," she said. "It keeps you strong and helps you remember you're not alone. It's a chance to talk about your treatments and what you're going through in your day-to-day life." If you or someone you love is living with HIV, these tips can help form a network of support: • Identify friends and family members who will offer encouragement and care; • Draw on the support of others living with HIV, either one-on-one or through a support group; • Tap into local HIV community groups for information and a broad range of support services; • Partner with your doctor to understand your treatment options and take an active role in managing your disease. For more information about the GRACE study, local GRACE events and information for people living with HIV, visit www.TheGraceStudy.com. "Having a support system is critical when you're living with HIV. It keeps you strong and helps you remember you're not alone." -Gwen, a participant in the GRACE study |
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