Table 2.
Summary of Qualitative Themes
| Themes and Sub-Themes | Participants (Total, n=20 FGDs Considered as 1) | Illustrative Quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Theme 1. CVD prevention preferences and practices | 16 | |
| Sub theme: Discordance between providers’ recommendations and PLWH preferred strategy for CVD prevention. |
13 | My doctor’s been pushing me toward –visits with a heart doctor … I don’t wanna take any more medications than I absolutely, positively have to. And so often you go to a doctor, and you walk outta there with two or three possible prescriptions. Focus group, University Hospital |
| Sub theme: CVD prevention knowledge inconsistent with PLWH CVD risk behavior |
14 | But things about heart-healthy habits like eating a low cholesterol diet, getting exercise, monitoring stress, watching alcohol – those are all things that I feel I know a fair amount about. Implementing them, though, can sometimes be a different thing. Duke University Medical Center |
| Sub theme: Experienced or Perceived Medication Side Effects |
12 | And sometimes with my cholesterol pills, because of the whole thing about affecting my liver, I need to take every other day. That’s what I do. And I’m supposed to take them every day. But when my doctor told me about the liver situation, I was like, oh, I ain’t taking this stuff every day. I take it every other day. And I didn’t tell her that and I probably should. Focus group, Duke University Medical Center. |
| Sub theme: Perceived Symptoms as Cues to Taking Medication |
8 | My vein is actually running right behind my eardrum. And when I get a high blood pressure, it sounds like a sonogram in my right ear. So, I take it to try to minimize that, ‘cause that in itself can be annoying and a stress factor. Focus group, University Hospital |
| Theme 2. Impact of long-term HIV care on adherence to CVD medication |
14 | I take my medication at the same time every day, or I try to. I don’t know if it helps or not but I’ve been undetectable for so long it doesn’t matter anymore anyway. Focus Group, University Hospital |
| Theme 3. Motivating factors for adoption and adherence to heart healthy behaviors |
19 | Extrinsic Motivator: “I’m just now getting back into a gym situation with guys I just want to work out with now. And I was trying to do it by myself. No fun.” Focus Group, Metro Health Hospital Intrinsic Motivator: [Medication] helps my heart; I wanna keep that heart going. I don’t want any heart disease—I don’t have a history of it—but I don’t want to … I have high risk factors, and I try to take care of that with diet, and exercise, and medicine. So you only get one heart and it’s okay. Focus Group, University Hospital |