Surveillance of HIV-related service barriers among individuals with early or late HIV diagnoses (SHIELD)

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What is SHIELD?

Surveillance of HIV-related service barriers among Individuals with Early or Late HIV Diagnoses, also called SHIELD, is a health survey conducted by your health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Which areas are participating in SHIELD?

See the full list of participating areas in the Contact SHIELD section.

How was I chosen?

To keep people healthy, many health issues in the United States, like rabies, measles, and HIV are reported to the health department. You were selected for this project from a list of people who have received an HIV diagnosis and lived in one of the areas where the health survey is being conducted.

Why should I take part?

By sharing your unique health experiences, you can help us identify and address gaps in services in your community that can affect your health and the health of others.

What will I get if I take part?

You will receive a token of appreciation for taking part in SHIELD in the form of an electronic gift card. If you like, we can also give you information about where to get medical and social services, like HIV case management services or help paying for HIV medication.

Do I have to take part?

No, you do not have to participate. However, please let your local SHIELD staff know if you decide that you are not interested so they can stop contacting you. You can always contact them later if you change your mind.

Can I stop taking part if I change my mind?

You may leave the survey at any time. There are no penalties or loss of benefits if you choose to leave the survey early.

What kind of information is collected?

During the health survey, we ask basic information, such as your age, gender, and race, as well as questions about your health care and lived experiences. You do not need to answer any question that you do not want to, and your name is not attached to survey answers. No information will be sent to CDC that can identify you. A copy of the health survey can be found here.

How is this information collected?

The data will be collected through a phone interview or web-based survey.

How will you protect my personal information?

Protecting your personal information is our main concern. We have rules in place to ensure that our data meet strict federal requirements. Only a random number will be used to identify your survey answers.

Who else will know my HIV status?

Only health department staff will know your HIV status. These staff have signed a confidentiality agreement, which means that they will not tell anyone your personal information.

Will anything I say be shared with my health care provider or clinic?

Your privacy is our main concern. We will not share your personal responses with your health care provider, clinic, or anyone else.

What will you do with the information you collect and how will it be used?

SHIELD data will be used to identify actionable missed opportunities for early diagnosis and prevention.

How can I learn more about HIV and other health services in my area?

Please visit the referrals section.

How can I learn more about SHIELD?

You can contact your health department or call the SHIELD information line, (404) 639-6361, to learn more about SHIELD.

What is SHIELD?

SHIELD is a survey that assesses the barriers, gaps, and missed opportunities related to HIV prevention and testing services among adults who received a recent early- or late-stage HIV diagnosis. Information gathered from SHIELD can be used to help improve the quality of HIV prevention and testing services throughout the United States. The project is conducted by state and local health departments in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Which health departments are participating?

See the full list of participating areas in the Contact SHIELD section.

What should I say if my patient asks me about SHIELD?

• SHIELD is a legitimate project run by the health department and CDC.
• Information from SHIELD will be used by prevention planning groups, policy leaders, health care providers, and people with HIV to advocate for needed resources and improve the quality of those services.
• Participants receive a token of appreciation in the form of an electronic gift card.
• Even if your patient is not interested in participating, ask them to contact their local SHIELD staff. This way, the staff know to stop contacting them.

How were my patients selected?

Like many other reportable health conditions, all HIV diagnoses are reported to public health departments. SHIELD contacts adults who received a recent early (Stage 0) or late-stage (Stage 3) HIV diagnosis from this list of reported cases. Only persons we contact can participate. Persons are contacted either directly by a participating health department or through their providers to obtain consent for their participation.

Will my patient be compensated?

Your patient will receive a token of appreciation in the form of an electronic gift card for taking part in SHIELD.

What kind of information is collected?

During the health survey, we ask your patient basic information, such as age, gender, and race, as well as questions about health care and lived experiences. They do not need to answer any question that they do not want to, and their name is not attached to survey answers. No information will be sent to CDC that can identify them. A copy of the health survey can be found here.

How will the information from the survey be used?

SHIELD data will be used nationally and locally to identify gaps in current HIV prevention and testing services and help people at risk for HIV to access those services.

How are the data secured?

SHIELD staff follow strict protocols to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of your patients’ information. No individual identifiers, including patient or provider names or addresses, are sent to CDC, nor will they be released or used in any reports.