The Engage Study aims to find out more about people’s decisions and attitudes toward beginning highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). It is a project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and is led by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS with the help of many collaborators and co-investigators.

Participation in the study involves filling out a baseline survey and another follow-up survey 6 to12 months later. The surveys will assess the treatment attitudes, behaviours and beliefs of HIV-positive individuals who are newly starting treatment in BC.

Specific objectives of Engage are:

• To determine the characteristics of people who are initiating HAART in BC at a time when there is expanded testing and treatment throughout the province.
• To identify factors associated with late HAART initiation and retention in care.
• To determine the role of HIV-related care (routine access to care, physician experience, physical and social barriers to care) and use of community-based organizations on HAART uptake and retention.

If you received an Engage postcard from your doctor, or picked one up in your community, please read the “Participate” section of the website to get more information on how you can take part in the study and what participating involves.

As of January 2016 this study is closed. We are no longer looking for new participants.