The only Wales based charity with a focus on HIV and related conditions.
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The only Wales based charity with a focus on HIV and related conditions. 〰️
Fast Track Cymru does not lead on research however, as part of our collaborative ethos we support projects across Wales and beyond. In addition, we prioritise evaluating our projects, campaigns and initiatives to ensure consistent reflection, improvement and delivery.
Fast Track Cymru Research and Evaluation
The overall aim of our Research & Evaluation Strategy is to contribute to the creation of a learning system which makes the use of local relevant data a core value, linked to international evidence to deliver a pathway towards the Paris Declaration goals for 2030. A key focus of this work will be to ensure that we reduce inequality and ensure that people living with HIV are supported to achieve the Wellbeing of Wales goals enshrined in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015).
We:
Provide support for the research and evaluation underpinning national initiatives identified in the HIV Action Plan for Wales (2023-2026) and beyond.
Support and facilitate research and evaluation of local initiatives, providing a forum for sharing and learning from best practice.
Establish a national network of individuals committed to high-quality research and evaluation in the field of HIV.
We will work with regional teams to develop evaluation frameworks for their projects and initiatives to ensure they are effectively evaluated, informed by the integrated RE-AIM and PRISM frameworks, with a reporting template enabling rapid dissemination, learning and action across relevant partner organisations and policy makers.
Publications
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In 2023, the Government published a bold HIV Action Plan for Wales 2023-2026 which seeks to support the Government’s 2030 HIV elimination commitment and tackle HIV-related stigma.
The report considers key components for having a good health-related quality of life (HRQoL) highlights impactful projects and puts forward key recommendations to deliver the HIV Action Plan.
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Wales HIV Testing Week 2024: Process Evaluation
We presented our data from the Wales HIV Testing Week campaign we run in partnership with Public Health Wales – at BHIVA 2025
Authors: Dr Alessandro Ceccarelli; Sarah Maslen; Ms Lisa Power; Mrs Zoe Couzens; Dr Adam D N Williams; Dr David Gillespien; Dr Jonathan Underwood; Dr Darren Cousins.
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Stop HIV Stigma Campaign 2024: Process Evaluation and Impact Report
This short report evaluates the campaign to assess its effectiveness, delivery, and outcomes.
Authors: Dr Alessandro Ceccarelli
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Wales HIV Testing Week 2023: Report
We presented our data from the Wales HIV Testing Week campaign we run in partnership with Public Health Wales – at BHIVA 2024
Authors: Dr Alessandro Ceccarelli; Ms Lisa Power; Mrs Zoe Couzens; Dr Adam D N Williams; Dr David Gillespien; Dr Jonathan Underwood; Dr Darren Cousins.
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Living Well with HIV in Wales.
Cost-effective ways that the Welsh Government can support living well with HIV.
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Texting 4 Testing 2022/23: Report
Impact and experiences of offering HIV testing across a whole city population through primary care clusters and GP surgeries in the Texting 4 Testing (T4T) project
Authors: Lisa Power; David Gillespie; Darren Cousins; Zsanett Lukács; Alessandro Ceccarelli; Zoë Couzens; Lucy Wynne.
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The Gilead HIV Knowledge Survey Results were released at the BHIVA Spring Conference – at BHIVA 2024. The data collection was promoted in partnership with Fast Track Cymru.
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Peer Support for People Living with HIV in Wales: Scoping and Feasibility
The report explores factors impacting the development of Peer Support for PLWH in Wales.
Authors: Sue Channon, Adam DN Williams, Carlos EA Alvarado, & David Gillespie.
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Experiences of Stigma Associated with PrEP
Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Stigma Scale and Experiences of Stigma Associated with HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who have Sex with Men: A Mixed Methods Study.
Authors: David Gillespie, Adam Williams 2, Fiona Wood, Zoë Couzens, Adam Jones, Richard Ma, Marijn de Bruin, Dyfrig A Hughes, Kerenza Hood.
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We present an evaluation of the impact of a volunteer-produced and community-led strategy to promote HIV testing as part of Wales HIV Testing Week 2022 – with minimal funding and much goodwill.
Authors: Dr Alessandro Ceccarelli; Ms Lisa Power; Mr Adam D N Williams; Mrs Zoe Couzens; Dr David Gillespien; Dr Jonathan Underwood; Dr Darren Cousins. -
Authors: Dr Alessandro Ceccarelli; Ms Lisa Power; Mrs Zoe Couzens; Dr Jonathan Underwood; Dr Darren Cousins
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Authors: David Gillespie, Adam Williams, Fiona Wood, Zoë Couzens, Adam Jones, Richard Ma, Marijn de Bruin, Dyfrig Hughes, Kerenza Hood
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An evaluation of the GP-facilitated HIV home testing pilot in the Cardiff City & South GP cluster
Widening access to HIV testing is an effective approach to meet the goal of zero new HIV transmissions by 2030. This pilot aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of GP-facilitated HIV home testing, in collaboration with Cardiff City & South GP cluster.
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In this study, 60 PrEP users were recruited from four sexual health clinics across Wales and followed over a 9 month period. Their PrEP use and sexual behaviour data were collected on a daily basis and these were analysed to estimate how people across Wales were taking PrEP. The study occurred around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic so also looked at whether pandemic-restrictions were associated with changes in how PrEP was used.
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In this study, 21 PrEP users across Wales were interviewed about their experiences of taking PrEP in order to understand why and how people take PrEP and what support may be useful for PrEP users.
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Peer Support for People Living with HIV in Wales: Scoping and Feasibility
Utilise the experiences and views of service users and providers, alongside the research evidence, to identify factors impacting the development of Peer Support for PLWH in Wales.
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Public Perceptions of Sexual Health Services in Wales
This report by Adam Williams sets out the findings from the survey exploring the public opinions of the current name Frisky Wales and future sexual health services that could be provided within Wales.
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All Wales Postal Testing Evaluation
The All Wales Postal Testing Evaluation was commissioned by Public Health Wales and undertaken by Adam Williams from Cardiff University.
The report evaluates the Postal Testing Service (Frisky Wales) developed in response to clinic closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Bringing Fast Track Cities to Cardiff & Vale and to Wales
This report examines three key questions: how many people access care for their HIV; the issues of late diagnosis of HIV infection in this region; and what we know about HIV-related stigma in Wales.
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The overall aim of our Research & Evaluation Strategy is to contribute to the creation of a learning system which makes the use of local relevant data a core value, linked to international evidence to deliver a pathway towards the Paris Declaration goals for 2030.
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Authors: Gillespie D, Knapper C, Hughes D, Couzens Z, Wood F, de Bruin M, Ma R, Jones AT, Williams A, Hood K.
Journal: Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2020 Sep 23;97(2):85-7.
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In November 2020 we published the results of our Getting to Zero Survey.
Findings from the survey project developed to explore what people from key groups think of the current services in Cardiff & Vale, what improvements they would suggest and any experiences of stigma they have faced.