14th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association 23-25 April 2008, Belfast

'I DON'T HAVE FEAR GO DIE, BUT I HAVE FEAR DON'T HAVE MONEY.' WHEN THE HEALTH NEEDS OF HIV PATIENTS ARE OVERSHADOWED BY THEIR SOCIAL NEEDS

HIV Med 2008; 9(Suppl. 1):12 (abstract no. P9)

N Friend-du Preez and J Anderson
Centre for the Study of Sexual Health and HIV (CSSHH) Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

BACKGROUND: Despite the support available from external agencies, non- clinical issues arise repeatedly during HIV consultations. In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV funding streams are under pressure to meet drug and laboratory monitoring costs, with fewer resources available within clinics for other aspects of care.

METHODS: As well as an audit of non-clinical problems which arose during consultations over a 4-week period, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 HIV-positive patients and 7 members of staff in the HIV clinic. Thematic analysis of these narratives explored a range of non-clinical issues that patients bring into the clinic setting, why this occurs and how these impacts on staff and the service provided. This study was supported through a BHIVA Research Award.

RESULTS:Results are framed according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in which lower level needs must be met first before higher level needs can be attended to. Higher level needs impact on adherence and help-seeking behaviour and for many HIV service users, health needs are overshadowed by lower level social needs.

CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study shed light on practical ways to further help patients address their non- clinical needs. Despite cuts in HIV funding, HIV services continue to provide patients with the type of support they are unable to find elsewhere. Although staff may feel overwhelmed by the social needs of patients, helping patients to meet some of these needs provided them with increased job satisfaction.

2008-04-23
P9

Copyright © 2008 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD