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Qualitative Evidence in the Study of HIV/AIDS and Sensitive Topics: The Contribution of Online Qualitative Research

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Handbook of Qualitative Health Research for Evidence-Based Practice

Part of the book series: Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability ((SHHDW,volume 4))

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Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss recent emerging trends in the application of qualitative research to the study of HIV/AIDS, with particular attention paid to the main research question, methods, and the resulting evidence. In particular, on the basis of a literature review of English papers indexed in the Scopus database and published in the last 20 years, the goal of this chapter is to discuss the emerging complexity in studying HIV/AIDS risk. Furthermore, the role of online peer exchanges, which can act as either a hindrance or a facilitator of safe conduct, is pointed out as a crucial element in this frame, and deserves further attention. Moving from the exploration of the main qualitative evidence produced in the HIV/AIDS framework, we conclude the chapter by suggesting four essential pillars of qualitative evidence in this field that may be considered as achievable goals and quality drivers, in order to orient future qualitative research in this field. At the same time, we point out methodological challenges and pitfalls that still need to be addressed and dealt with, in order to guarantee the best applicability and relevance of qualitative evidence in the HIV/AIDS field.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In this section we comment on publications retrieved in the Scopus database with a query that crossed key words linked to qualitative research (i.e.. qualitative research or qualitative inquiry or qualitative study or grounded theory or ethnography or phenomenology or narrative or conversational analysis or discourse analysis), with the key word HIV/AIDS. We restricted our search to only peer reviewed journals and to sources written in English. The choice of Scopus, instead of other databases, was related to its broader spectrum and coverage of different disciplinary domains in the health and humanities sector.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universita Cattaolica Del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

    Guendalina Graffigna Ph.D.

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  1. Guendalina Graffigna Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Guendalina Graffigna Ph.D. .

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  1. Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Karin Olson

  2. Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Richard A. Young

  3. Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Izabela Z. Schultz

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Graffigna, G. (2016). Qualitative Evidence in the Study of HIV/AIDS and Sensitive Topics: The Contribution of Online Qualitative Research. In: Olson, K., Young, R., Schultz, I. (eds) Handbook of Qualitative Health Research for Evidence-Based Practice. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability, vol 4. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2920-7_19

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