HOW TO INVOLVE HARD-TO-REACH GROUPS - A CONSUMER-LED PROJECT WITH LAYCARERS OF PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED HIV-INFECTION

The identification and provision of support to lay carers is crucial i f Health Authorities are to meet the identified health care needs of t heir populations. This paper outlines in Part One the process for recr uiting a defined but potentially hard to reach group, namely lay carer s of people with advanced HIV infection, into a project designed as pa rt of an ongoing development in HIV/AIDS education, the specific diffi culties encountered, and how these were overcome. Part Two describes h ow to make a video, highlighting the involvement of carers in all stag es of the research and development of a health education video-based r esource package. Crucial ro overcoming many of the difficulties and in winning the confidence and trust of the carers was the overview throu ghout of a committed multi-disciplinary Steering Group, the emphasis o n confidentiality, the support of colleagues in the six UK centres, an d the sensitivity and skills of the university research and production facilitators. This process ensured that the carers as consumers were involved in a continuing and active dialogue through the project.