AEGiS-15IAC: Training multidisciplinary teams to assess and support adherence: The Columbia University MTCT-Plus Experience.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Training multidisciplinary teams to assess and support adherence: The Columbia University MTCT-Plus Experience.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. B10262)

Rabkin M, Abrams EJ, El-Sadr W
Columbia University, New York, United States

ISSUES: The Columbia University MTCT-Plus Initiative provides HIV/AIDS care and treatment to women and families in resource-poor settings. More than 400 multidisciplinary team members in 8 countries have been trained to provide family-focused HIV/AIDS primary care, OI prophylaxis, and ART to adults and children. Adherence assessment and support is an integral part of these services and a major focus of program training.

DESCRIPTION: MTCT-Plus provides on-site competency-based training to multidisciplinary teams. The theme of adherence runs through multiple training activities, but is highlighted in four specific modules, each of which includes slide sets, case studies, and relevant program forms. "Adherence to Care" emphasizes the systems that need to be in place to support continuity care - appointments, medical records, interdisciplinary communication - as well as the need for patient education, counseling and support. "Adherence to Treatment" focuses on the assessment and enhancement of medication-taking with specific attention to antiretroviral therapy. "Pediatric Adherence" addresses issues specific to the treatment of infants and children, and "Antiretroviral Therapy: Coordinating Care and Support" is a wholly case-based module that encourages multidisciplinary teams to work together to improve adherence and patient outcomes.

LESSONS LEARNED: Adherence is more than taking antiretroviral therapy. Distinguishing adherence to care from adherence to treatment is an effective way to approach training on this topic. Similarly, a formal distinction between adherence assessment and adherence support is helpful to trainees. The Columbia University MTCT-Plus training materials have been field-tested in 8 countries and may be helpful to other HIV/AIDS care programs.

RECOMMENDATIONS: MTCT-Plus training materials are available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese from mtctplus@columbia.edu.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Services, Teaching, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Universities, HIV Infections, Counseling, Learning, Anti-HIV Agents, Behavior, HIV Seropositivity, Primary Health Care, Humans, Female, Adult, Child, Infant, education, therapy, organization & administration, drug therapy

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B10262