JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

It remains unclear whether existing healthcare services reflect the HIV care continuum, which underscores the importance of integrated care beyond viral suppression.

Objective:

This study aimed to analyse the literature on healthcare services for people living with HIV (PLWH) to enhance the understanding of trends and knowledge structures.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted utilising BERTopic, an advanced machine learning-based topic modelling. We searched the PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for English-language studies published between 2013 and 2023. The analyses were performed twice: one to broaden the understanding of the literature and the other to explore the specific details of the healthcare services described.

Results:

Of 10,678 articles screened, 200 studies met the inclusion criteria. In the context of the HIV care continuum, most studies targeted the treatment retention stage, while studies focusing on the long-term stage were the most limited. Broad literature analysis revealed seven topics, with ‘ART adherence’ being the predominant topic. A more comprehensive analysis of healthcare services within the literature identified 13 topics grouped into three meta-topics. The predominant topic, ‘Behavioral session,’ had the most studies, reflecting diverse delivery methods and content in providing healthcare services for PLWH. The distribution of topics on healthcare services presented a clear contrast: support-focused services constituted the largest proportion in the initial stage, while services emphasising symptom self-management gained prominence in the final stage.

Conclusions:

This study offers valuable insights into current HIV care services and identifies areas for future research and intervention. While HIV care has shifted towards lifelong management, the existing literature remains focused on medication treatment, neglecting the multifaceted needs of PLWH. Disparities in research focus, especially concerning vulnerable populations, underscore the need for more inclusive research initiatives and tailored healthcare services. Efforts should be intensified to bridge research gaps, ensuring inclusive and equitable healthcare services across diverse populations and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to meet the evolving needs of PLWH, thereby enhancing the HIV care continuum for all.