Understanding the experiences and perception of people living with HIV on integrative traditional East Asian medicine management in Korea: an interview protocol for qualitative research

INTRODUCTION: Patients with HIV/AIDS have been able to experience the average life expectancy of the general population due to medical advancements. However, they face physical, emotional and social difficulties that worsen their quality of life. The pharmacological approach is often the first choice to address these issues, but it involves some limitations. Integrative traditional East Asian medicine (ITEAM) can compensate for the limitations of drugs and can be applied to treat physiological and psychiatric problems. In Korea, ITEAM interventions are easily accessible under the government insurance. However, the experiences, perceptions and barriers to the use of ITEAM in patients with HIV/AIDS are less studied. Therefore, we will interview them to explore their experiences and examine the strengths, limitations, barriers and improvements in the use of ITEAM. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a qualitative study using a phenomenological framework. We will conduct one-to-one interviews with 3–10 patients with HIV/AIDS who have been treated with ITEAM from March 2021 to January 2022. We will present semistructured open-ended questions and analyse them using experiential phenomenological research methods. The results will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the National Medical Center (IRB number, NMC-2101-008). The results of this study will be disseminated through journal articles, newspapers and conference proceedings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical Research Information Service: KCT0005855; Pre-results.