Background
The iSTAT (Immediate Start of Antiretroviral Therapy) program at a large HIV clinic in Dallas is transforming how newly diagnosed patients begin treatment. Instead of waiting weeks or months, iSTAT aims to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) within seven days of diagnosis helping patients achieve viral suppression sooner, stay in care longer, and improve their overall health outcomes.
This study followed 200 newly diagnosed patients over 24 months, comparing their outcomes to historical cohorts to measure effectiveness, safety, retention in care, and long-term viral suppression.
Focusing on Those Most Impacted
The study placed special emphasis on communities disproportionately affected by HIV in Dallas, including African American and Hispanic/Latino populations. Understanding the experiences of these groups was critical to evaluating not only the clinical outcomes of iSTAT, but also its ability to address health disparities.
Beyond the Numbers: Listening to Patients
To ensure the program is truly patient-centered, researchers also collected surveys and interviews to understand patient readiness, satisfaction, and barriers to HIV care. These insights go beyond lab results, highlighting the personal and structural challenges patients face when starting ART.
Challenges Behind the Scenes
Managing this type of study meant working with large volumes of sensitive data from multiple sources:
Clinical data on viral load and medication adherence
Survey responses about patient experiences
Interview transcripts about barriers, stigma, and readiness
Balancing speed, accuracy, and privacy was critical to ensure the study produced reliable insights while safeguarding patient confidentiality.
How ANT Supported the Research
ANT became an extension of the research team by handling transcription, translation, and data organization with HIPAA-compliant care.
We provided accurate transcripts of patient interviews, preserving the nuances of how participants spoke about stigma, readiness for treatment, and satisfaction with the iSTAT program. We also structured survey and interview data for easy analysis, allowing the research team to quickly identify patterns across demographic groups, adherence levels, and outcomes.
By taking on the heavy lifting of data processing and qualitative analysis support, ANT enabled researchers to focus on evaluating program effectiveness and improving patient-centered care strategies.
The Impact
With ANT’s support, the iSTAT program evaluation produced a comprehensive, actionable picture of how immediate ART initiation affects patient outcomes. The findings are helping the clinic refine its approach, reduce time to viral suppression, and address barriers to care ensuring that treatment is not only fast but also effective and patient-centered.
At ANT, we don’t just handle data, we help turn it into insight that drives better health outcomes.
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