HIV/AIDS Prevention & Care
With the multifaceted nature of HIV and impeded access to healthcare services for many HIV patients, poor health outcomes continue to be a reality despite remarkable improvements in HIV treatment. Treating HIV involves managing all the underlying socioeconomic determinants of health with a multifaceted team called the interdisciplinary team.1 In an interdisciplinary team, healthcare providers from different disciplines work together with the patient to address mental health and substance abuse issues, housing stability, income availability, access to transportation, and readiness and ability to access antiretroviral medications. These issues have the greatest impact on one’s ability to manage HIV, and needs to be recognized early on in order to provide cultural competent and holistic care. It is also important to provide cultural competent care to this population.2
I choose this event to show my growth in providing cultural sensitive care to people living with HIV and working with various healthcare providers to provide holistic care.
In the HIV prevention course, I was placed with various healthcare providers and worked with various minority groups, including people with HIV, drug-addiction, mental illnesses, and from indigenous background. Through the experience, I saw personally the living conditions of these individuals, while learned how to practice culturally sensitive care. From this course, I had an opportunity to learn and understand HIV into details. I acquired a deeper knowledge on HIV care, support and treatment, as well as acquire the skills to help improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. I learned how to work as a team member in the interprofessional team as well as work effectively within my own discipline.
I met many individuals from various health disciplines, as well as the people living with HIV. This course transformed me from someone who has little understanding about HIV and fear about the disease to someone who understand the nature of the disease and someone who is competent in delivering cultural competent and safe care to all people including those living with HIV and in the marginal society.
This experience profoundly impacted me personally and professionally.
References:
- Vachirasudlekha B, Cha A, Berkowitz L, Shah B. Interdisciplinary HIV care – patient perceptions. Int J Health Care Qual Assur. 2014;27(5):405-13.
- O’Connor BB. Promoting cultural competence in HIV/AIDS care. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. 1996;7:41-53.