SHAPE

The STOP HIV/AIDS® Program Evaluation (SHAPE) study was a longitudinal cohort study of people living with HIV across all health authorities in British Columbia. The SHAPE study first launched in 2016 in order to characterize healthcare experiences and outcomes among people living with HIV, as well as characterize retention across the cascade of care for HIV.

 

The ‘first phase’ of the SHAPE study wrapped in September 2021, which captured the experiences of 644 people living with HIV across BC (to read more about the first wave of SHAPE, please find more information here:https://www.bccfe.ca/research/SHAPE/posters-and-publications. We continue to share research findings from SHAPE, with both academic and community audiences, and have brought back our findings to partnering sites across the province. We also share our knowledge translation outputs on our website: https://www.bccfe.ca/research/SHAPE/posters-and-publications

 

In 2024 investigators at the BC CfE and all health authorities in BC are launching a new phase of the SHAPE study (SHAPE 2.0). Through community engagement and guidance from the SHAPE steering committee, we have heard that the priorities, concerns and realities of PLWH across BC has dramatically changed since the start of the provincial STOP HIV/AIDS® strategy more than a decade ago. While HIV treatment has had clear success in improving HIV-related morbidity and mortality, there is an ongoing need to understand the quality of healthcare, as well as the health priorities and experiences of PLWH in order to adapt and improve our health services. The changing landscape of HIV services, aging, mental health and substance use, and chronic comorbidities that are uniquely impacting PLWH is the focus of this new phase of the SHAPE study.

SHAPE Participants

Are you eligible to participate?

You are eligible to participate in the SHAPE study if you are:

  • Living with HIV
  • 19 years of age or older
  • A current resident of British Columbia
  • Have had a HIV viral load test and/or received HIV medications in British Columbia
  • Able to complete the survey in English
  • Able to provide informed consent

What does my participation involve?

If you are eligible to participate in the study, you will be asked to complete one survey, which will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

The survey will include questions about your medical history, personal support systems, use of health care services, HIV treatment, and your perspective on your health priorities and healthcare experiences.

You will receive $40 after completing the survey.

Why should I participate?

While there may be no direct benefits from participating in this study you will indirectly be helping us understand more about people living with HIV what services are available barriers to accessing care and how to best provide support.

How do I participate?

If you want to do the survey online by yourself, your next steps are:

  1. Click the “Start the Survey” button below to read the study consent form and start the registration process to complete the survey online.
  2. The “Start the Survey” button will take you to the study consent page. After reading through the consent form, if you do not have any questions and agree to participating in the study, click the ‘Continue’ button to begin the study registration questions.
  3. Your answers to the registration questions will determine if you are eligible to participate in the and complete the survey.
  4. If you have already started the survey but haven’t completed it, click on the “Continue the Survey” button to continue the survey where you left off after entering your eligibility information.

If you prefer to do the survey with the help of a Peer Research Associate*, you can do this either over the phone or in-person at St. Paul’s Hospital or the Hope to Health clinic in Vancouver.

COMING SOON: Participants wanting to complete their survey in-person in other locations across BC, please come back to see the list of locations that offer in-person interviews.


If you would prefer to do the survey either in-person or over the phone with a peer research associate* during our hours of operation (10:00am to 4:30pm)

*A peer research associate is a member of the research team who is living with HIV. They are able to determine your eligibility, register you for the study, and take you through the survey.

Contact

For more information or to participate please call us at our toll-free number: 1-855-506-8615 or email us at shape@bccfe.ca.

Study Team

Principal Investigators:


Dr. Rolando Barrios, MD
Director of Epidemiology and Population Health
BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

 

Dr. David Moore
Research Scientist
BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

 

Dr. Kate Salters
Research Scientist

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

 

Co-Investigators:

Dr. Julio Montaner

Dr. Robert Hogg

Scott Emerson

Meaghan Thumath

Robin Yates

Dr. Viviane Lima

Dr. Surita Parashar

Junine Toy

Dr. Rakel Kling

Dr. Malik Baxi

Dr. Jonathan Malo

Dr. Mike Benusic

Community Partners:

Cool Aid Community Health Centre

AVI Victoria

Kilala Lelum

Pacific AIDS Network

Insite

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Programs

McLaren Housing Society

Heath Initiative for Men (HIM)

CAAN

 

Study Staff:

Farnaz Azarmju
Study Coordinator

Antonio Marante
Peer Research Associate

Tim Wesseling
Peer Research Associate

Tatiana Pakhomova
Qualitative Research Coordinator

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During the Canada Post strike, the following measures have been undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office.  (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675).
    Certain parts of BC have experienced medication delivery delays of up to 2 weeks by private courier. The pharmacy suggests clients or providers place medication orders with 2-3 weeks advance notice whenever possible.

During this time, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service.