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That's why a new workshop at Kaiser Permanente aims to help people with HIV deal with their illness more effectively. Not only do the workshops give people with HIV more self-confidence in being able to deal with HIV, but the classes may also eventually help reduce AIDS-related symptoms, preliminary research shows.
The workshops, called "The Positive Self-Management Program," run for six weeks and help people with HIV manage their illness, participate fully in daily activities, and cope with the emotions of having a chronic illness.
"HIV is a serious health problem which unavoidably impacts one's life," said Joe DiMilia, HIV health educator at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. "Physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue, emotional reaction like anger or frustration or simply having to go to the doctor more frequently can interfere with daily routines in one's life, such as working full-time."
The self-management classes are unique in that they are led by people who also have chronic illnesses, sometimes even HIV. The leaders participate fully in class activities -- ranging from heart-to-heart discussions about coping with AIDS to designing weekly "contracts" in which each person in the class promises to make life changes. DiMilia, for instance, had experienced bouts of depression for several years as a result of seeing many friends battle AIDS in their lives. During his stint as a trainer for the self-management workshops, he became better at using exercise and relaxation techniques to help him battle the down times.
Of course, the class is beneficial for participants, as well. Mike, a 47-year-old system administrator found out he had HIV in 1994. He came to the self-management program suffering from frequent migraines, which can be a side effect of HIV.
"The program was informational as well as a big motivator for me," he said. "It kept me going when things got tough." Inspired by the program, Mike began exercising -- which helps his migraines, he thinks -- and took definite steps to put his financial affairs in order.
A recently completed study of almost 60 patients at Kaiser Permanente shows that many people who take the self-management course increase their confidence in being able to deal with HIV. Earlier studies of people with other chronic diseases, such as arthritis, show that increased self-confidence often means less pain and fewer doctor visits.
The self-management course was originally designed for people with arthritis, and later adapted for those with HIV by Dr. Allen Gifford in 1994. Gifford was then working at Stanford University on a fellowship.
"The workshop deals with the issues of greatest concern to people with HIV -- and helps them really take charge of their disease," said Gifford, now asst. professor of medicine at the University of California at San Diego. A study he performed at Stanford revealed that the self-management program increased self-confidence and decreased symptoms for participants with HIV.
The Kaiser Permanente Workshops Are Conducted at Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose Sites.
The California Division of Kaiser Permanente is a prepaid, health maintenance organization (HMO) serving more than 5 million members throughout the state. The Division has approximately 6,400 physicians and 55,000 employees. It is organized into 12 local market areas which are served by 26 major medical centers.
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CONTACT: Kaiser Permanente News Bureau Tom Debley or Lila Petersen or Laura Rohde or Kimberly Jimerson, 510/987-3900 www.ca.kaiserpermanente.org
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