2 Policy Stakeholder Interview Guide

OMB Number (0906-XXXX)

Expiration Date (XX/XX/202X)

Enhancing Linkage of STI and HIV Surveillance Data in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Evaluation

Policy Stakeholder Interview Guide

Public Burden Statement: This data collection will provide Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) with a better understanding of the RWHAP Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Enhancing Linkage of STI and HIV Surveillance Data Technical Assistance demonstration project. Information gathered will provide HRSA with an understanding of the extent and impact of the TA provided, barriers and facilitators RWHAP jurisdictions face, and opportunities for improvement and lessons learned. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this information collection is 0906-XXXX and it is valid until XX/XX/202X. This information collection is voluntary. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 14N136B, Rockville, Maryland, 20857 or paperwork@hrsa.gov.

INTRODUCTION AND INFORMED CONSENT

Thank you for taking the time today to talk with us. The purpose of this interview is to gain an understanding of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Enhancing Linkage of STI and HIV Surveillance Data in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) initiative your jurisdiction is participating in. Abt is evaluating the technical assistance (TA) provided by the Technical Assistance Provider (TAP), Georgetown University, which is assisting RWHAP jurisdictions with linking their HIV and STI surveillance data. You are being asked to participate to share your insights about if and how you or your department is using these data.

Our interview today should take no more than thirty minutes. Please understand that your participation in this evaluation is voluntary and that if you choose not to participate you will not be penalized in any way. You can refuse to answer any question I ask and/or may ask to stop the interview at any time.

The discussion will be confidential. Your comments, and those of other participants, will be used in reports to the government, in summary form. Your name will not be shared with HRSA. With your approval, the discussion will be audio recorded so that we can be sure to capture everything that is said. The recordings will not be shared with anyone outside the Abt Associates evaluation team.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions that I cannot answer at this time, or at any time after this interview, I will follow up with the appropriate person and get back to you as soon as possible.

Given the information that I have just reviewed with you, do you still wish to participate in this interview? Do I have your permission to audio record the interview?

Thank you.

Interview Date:

Interviewer’s Initials:

Note-taker’s Initials:

Participant’s Jurisdiction:

Participant’s Affiliated Organization/Agency:

Participant’s Job Title:

Pre-Interview Disclaimer:

Before we begin, we will be referring to “linked data” in a number of questions included in this interview. This term refers matched STI/HIV surveillance data that is intended to be used improve RWHAP clinic capacity for linking and re-engaging people with HIV into care.

1. To begin, please describe your role, and your working relationship with [jurisdiction name/ office]?

2. Do you interact with or use HIV and STI surveillance data in your jurisdiction? If so, how are these data used?

   1. If YES, probe: How do you currently use linked data in your materials, reports, products etc.?

   2. If YES, probe: How do you currently use linked data in your decision making &/or when developing policies?

   3. If NO, probe: Why don’t you utilize HIV and STI surveillance data?

3. What, in your opinion, are the primary facilitators & barriers to using linked data in your jurisdiction?

4. What, if any, challenges have you encountered with respect to data availability?

5. In your opinion, what impact would data availability improvements have on people with STIs and/or HIV in your jurisdiction?

6. Are there any additional thoughts you would like to share before we conclude?

Thank you very much for your time today. We are at the end of our interview.

Additional Questions to be asked in Evaluation Year 3

1. What changes have you noticed in the availability of STI or HIV surveillance data in the past year?

2. What changes have you noticed in the quality of STI or HIV surveillance data in the past year?

3. Going forward, do you anticipate utilizing linked data any less or more than you previously did? Why is that the case?

2