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Participant experiences of stopping ART as part of a clinical trial; findings from a qualitative study within the RIO trial in the United Kingdom.
Interviews with 20 men taking part in an HIV treatment-interruption trial describe both relief from daily medication and anxiety about viral rebound and relationships. The study concerns monitored research interruptions, not stopping treatment in ordinary care.
Whose experiences were studied?
Researchers interviewed 20 cisgender men living with HIV who were enrolled in the UK RIO trial. The phase II trial studied HIV-specific broadly neutralising antibodies. Interviews took place between January and May 2025 and were analysed thematically.
Why was treatment interrupted?
Analytical treatment interruptions let researchers test whether an experimental approach can control HIV without ongoing antiretroviral therapy. In this research setting, participants stop medication with frequent viral-load monitoring. That procedure carries uncertainty about rebound and transmission and is different from an unmonitored interruption.
What did participants describe?
Participants reported scientific altruism as a motivation but also worries about stopping treatment. Breaking a daily pill-taking routine was difficult for some; many later described a sense of freedom. Weekly viral-load testing and researcher support helped them manage concern during rebound.
How were relationships affected?
Interviewees described avoiding dating and experiencing less intimacy or sexual pleasure while off treatment. They welcomed access for partners without HIV to prevention options, including PrEP, PEP and condoms. These are reported experiences from a selected trial group, not estimates of how common each experience is among all people with HIV.
What can trial teams learn?
The authors identify predictable testing, timely results, prevention access and clear criteria for restarting therapy as factors in acceptability. Some participants found restarting treatment difficult, and pre-trial preparation supported adherence. A qualitative study can explain experiences but cannot establish the intervention's clinical efficacy. Do not stop HIV medication on the basis of this page.
- Journal
- HIV research & clinical practice
- Kind
- Paper metadata
- Identifier
- PMID 42826224