PAIRED: Quantitative and Qualitative PAtIent-Reported Experiences and perceiveD Benefit of Treatment with Dolutegravir/Lamivudine in the United States.

Background: Understanding the treatment experiences and satisfaction of people with HIV using two-drug regimens, including dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC), is crucial to assess ongoing needs and meet Ending the HIV Epidemic goals.

Methods: PAIRED is a mixed-methods study comprising a quantitative cross-sectional survey (using validated instruments to assess treatment satisfaction, adherence, and health-related quality of life [QOL]) and qualitative interviews. Adults in the USA who switched to DTG/3TC while virologically suppressed and had been using DTG/3TC for ≥ 3 months were eligible. All participants were surveyed, and a sub-set participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was performed to discern overarching interview themes.

Results: Overall, 474 participants completed the survey (assigned female sex at birth, 31%; non-white, 48%; aged ≥ 50 years, 50%); 20 of them participated in qualitative interviews. Treatment satisfaction, adherence, and QOL scores were high. Six themes were extracted from interviews: (1) fewer drugs are important in HIV treatment because of associated reductions in long-term drug exposure and perceived risk of toxicity; (2) high DTG/3TC satisfaction is largely due to achieved expectations regarding efficacy and safety; (3) DTG/3TC simplicity and convenience enable more freedom and autonomy; (4) treatment advancements led to HIV no longer being a "death sentence"; (5) managing HIV is no longer the main concern relative to other health conditions; and (6) some HIV unmet needs remain.

Conclusions: A large representative population with HIV had primarily positive experiences and few needs after switching to DTG/3TC. These data complement clinical trial data and support DTG/3TC effectiveness and tolerability in real-world settings.