Health literacy is important for access to and quality of HIV care. While most models of health literacy acknowledge the importance of the patient–provider relationship to disease management, a more nuanced understanding of this relationship is needed. Thematic analysis from 28 focus groups with HIV-experienced patients (n = 135) and providers (n = 71) identified a long-term and trusting relationship as an essential part of HIV treatment over the continuum of HIV care. We found that trust and relationship building over time were important for patients with HIV as well as for their providers. An expanded definition of health literacy that includes gaining a patient’s trust and engaging in a process of health education and information sharing over time could improve HIV care. Expanding clinical perspectives to include trust and the importance of the patient–provider relationship to a shared understanding of health literacy may improve patient experiences and engagement in care.

Objective Women infected with HIV live with many factors that affect antiretroviral (ARV) medication adherence. Social Action Theory (SAT) explains how context, environment, and psychological factors influence behavior. How these factors are related to HIV adherence in women is unique. The purpose of this analysis was to explore the relationships among contextual, environmental, and regulatory factors with ARV medication adherence in order to assist care providers in improving care for women living with HIV. Design Convenience descriptive multicenter Setting Sixteen HIV clinics and service organizations in North America Participants This sample was drawn from a larger study of 2,182 persons living with HIV recruited from clinics and service from September 2009 to January, 2011. Our study included 383 North American women living with HIV who were taking ARV medications. Methods We assessed the relationship of contextual, environmental, and psychological factors specific to women living with HIV with adherence to ARV medication. Descriptive and multivariate statistics were used to examine the effects of these factors on self-reported ARV adherence. Results Age, depression symptoms, stigma, and engagement with health care provider, and four psychological factors were correlated with self-reported ARV medication adherence (p = .01). Regression analysis indicated that adherence self-efficacy and depression symptoms accounted for 19% for 3-day and 22% for 30-day self-reported medication adherence. Conclusions Adherence self-efficacy and depression symptoms predict ARV medication adherence in women and should be evaluated by nurses. Future research is needed to identify antecedents to and interventions that support adherence self-efficacy and decrease depression symptoms.

BackgroundHuman rights approaches to manage HIV and efforts to decriminalize HIV exposure/transmission globally offer hope to persons living with HIV (PLWH). However, among vulnerable populations of PLWH, substantial human rights and structural challenges (disadvantage and injustice that results from everyday practices of a well-intentioned liberal society) must be addressed. These challenges span all ecosocial context levels and in North America (Canada and the United States) can include prosecution for HIV nondisclosure and HIV exposure/transmission. Our aims were to: 1) Determine if there were associations between the social structural factor of criminalization of HIV exposure/transmission, the individual factor of perceived social capital (resources to support one’s life chances and overcome life’s challenges), and HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among PLWH and 2) describe the nature of associations between the social structural factor of criminalization of HIV exposure/transmission, the individual factor of perceived social capital, and HIV ART adherence among PLWH.MethodsWe used ecosocial theory and social epidemiology to guide our study. HIV related criminal law data were obtained from published literature. Perceived social capital and HIV ART adherence data were collected from adult PLWH. Correlation and logistic regression were used to identify and characterize observed associations.ResultsAmong a sample of adult PLWH (n = 1873), significant positive associations were observed between perceived social capital, HIV disclosure required by law, and self-reported HIV ART adherence. We observed that PLWH who have higher levels of perceived social capital and who live in areas where HIV disclosure is required by law reported better average adherence. In contrast, PLWH who live in areas where HIV transmission/exposure is a crime reported lower 30-day medication adherence. Among our North American participants, being of older age, of White or Hispanic ancestry, and having higher perceived social capital, were significant predictors of better HIV ART adherence.ConclusionsTreatment approaches offer clear advantages in controlling HIV and reducing HIV transmission at the population level. These advantages, however, will have limited benefit for adherence to treatments without also addressing the social and structural challenges that allow HIV to continue to spread among society’s most vulnerable populations.

The purposes of this study were to (a) review original research in the United States on the intersection of HIV risk and intimate partner violence (IPV) in women, and (b) identify trends that promote nursing and public health prevention and intervention strategies. Twenty-three original, peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature from 2008 to April 2012 were reviewed. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they addressed both HIV and IPV in women. Studies identified relationships between intimate partner victimization and HIV risk behaviors. Other factors compounding the complex relationship between IPV and increased HIV risk in women included sexual decision-making, male behavior, and substance use. A promising trend was found in the publication of studies addressing interventions. Prospective studies are needed to determine causality and temporal associations. Nursing interventions should focus on identifying women at risk for IPV, assessing HIV exposure risks, and providing culturally sensitive interventions and preventive measures.

The engagement of patients with their health care providers (HCP) improves patients’ quality of life (QOL), adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and life satisfaction. Engagement with HCP includes access to HCP as needed, information sharing, involvement of client in decision making and self-care activities, respect and support of the HCP for the client’s choices, and management of client concerns. This study compares country-level differences in patients’ engagement with HCP and assesses statistical associations relative to adherence rates, self-efficacy, self-esteem, QOL, and symptom self-reporting by people living with HIV (PLHIV). A convenience sample of 2,182 PLHIV was enrolled in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Namibia, and China. Cross-sectional data were collected between September 2009 and January 2011. Inclusion criteria were being at least 18 years of age, diagnosed with HIV, able to provide informed consent, and able to communicate in the local language with site researchers. In the HCP scale, a low score indicated greater provider engagement. Country comparisons showed that PLHIV in Namibia had the most HCP engagement (OR 2.80, p < 0.001) and that PLHIV in China had the least engagement (OR −7.03, p < 0.0001) compared to the PLHIV in the Western countries. Individuals having better HCP engagement showed better self-efficacy for adherence (t = −5.22, p < 0.0001), missed fewer medication doses (t = 1.92, p ≤ 0.05), had lower self-esteem ratings (t = 2.67, p < 0.01), fewer self-reported symptoms (t = 3.25, p < 0.0001), and better overall QOL physical condition (t = −3.39, p < 0.001). This study suggests that promoting engagement with the HCP is necessary to facilitate skills that help PLHIV manage their HIV. To improve ART adherence, HCPs should work on strategies to enhance self-efficacy and self-esteem, therefore, exhibiting fewer HIV-related symptoms and missing less medication doses to achieve better QOL.

Self-compassion is a robust construct with cross-cultural relevance. A culturally based brief treatment approach aimed at increasing self-compassion may lend itself to the development of a cost effective adjunct treatment in HIV disease, including the management of anxiety symptoms.

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Purpose: Over a decade ago, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing for pregnant women. Despite this recommendation, nearly 30% of pregnant women report not being tested. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe personal experiences of women in obtaining HIV testing and healthcare services in east Texas.