Despite dramatic advancements in treatment, HIV remains a major public health
issue in Ireland, with a growing, ageing population of people living with HIV (PLWH).
International data demonstrates that PLWH experience a high burden of mental
health symptoms, loneliness and reduced quality of life (QOL); the 2024 Fast Track
Cities report highlights a need to understand mental health and experiences of older
PLWH in Ireland. The Department of Health Mental Health Policy proposes Social
Prescribing as a community-based intervention for prevention and early intervention
of mental health issues.
This project aims to understand mental health, loneliness and QOL in older PLWH in
Ireland, and to co-design a social prescribing intervention to enhance mental
wellbeing and social connectedness, achieved through collaboration with a PPI
Advisory Group at all stages of the project.
Key Objectives:
Conduct survey and qualitative data collection (semi-structured interviews
and focus groups) with older PLWH (>50 years) attending St James’s
Hospital HIV services.
Analyse data to understand experiences of mental health, loneliness and
QOL of older PLWH; compare findings to an age-matched sample of the
general Irish population (Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) dataset)
Co-design a social prescribing service for older PLWH attending St James’s
hospital with multi-stakeholder involvement
Apply integrated knowledge translation principles and programme throughout
project to ensure early, impactful translation of knowledge to action
Our research and knowledge partnerships, with expertise in HIV care, geriatric care,
social prescribing and the specific methodologies used, will work under guidance of,
and in collaboration with, PPI representative colleagues who will advise the project
from conception to dissemination and beyond. The population of PLWH contains
multiple ‘priority group’ who have increased risk of experiencing mental health
difficulties. The research programme is nationally relevant and aligns with HSE
priority areas of HIV care, Mental Healthcare and Social Prescribing
