Abstract
Advances in medication claim to have transformed HIV from a terminal disease to a chronic illness. However, these advances have also introduced some unique challenges; HIV-drug resistance, the failure of medication to stop the replication process of the HIV virus, is an increasing concern for those infected. There is an extensive amount of current literature on medical studies relating to HIV-drug resistance, but the psychological processes and the impact of living with HIV-drug resistance have been largely overlooked. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of HIV-drug resistance in a group of HIV-positive gay men who have experienced this phenomenon. Also, the aim was to examine how these men adjusted to drug resistance. Consequently a semi-structured interview schedule was developed to elicit the participants’ personal experiences and views of HIV-drug resistance. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four master themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Back to the battle days? (2) Understanding HIV-drug resistance, (3) Fight, hide or hand it over and (4) Issues of disclosure. This study can be seen to expand the current knowledge base on HIV management as well as inform professionals who work with HIV-positive gay men experiencing drug resistance.