AEGiS-15IAC: Role of volunteers and people living with HIV/AIDS in adherence and DOT programs - Juan A. Fernandez Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Role of volunteers and people living with HIV/AIDS in adherence and DOT programs - Juan A. Fernandez Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrD1063)

Strauss R, Cahn P, Gualdoni P, Grillo M, Gregori P, Ramos W, De Caro J, Zaidelis S, Castagnino H, Balbe L
Fundacion Huesped, Buenos Aires, Argentina

ISSUES: From March 2002, on a daily basis a group of 12 volunteers -most of which are PLWAs- is actively involved in support activities directed to patients in the waiting room of our Unit. Lack of knowledge on HIV issues is specially observed in naïve patients. A high percentage of patients have poor reading skills and very low comprehension and are therefore unable to understand the sometimes complicated prescriptions. Each day an average of 280 people attend this Unit.

DESCRIPTION: Taking advantage of the idle time that patients have in the waiting room, specially trained volunteers with a proper identification, are helping out wherever needed. Since most of the volunteers are also on treatment they can easily detect problems and at the same time give tips to find ways to improve adherence. This same group of volunteers is also actively involved in a modified DOT (Directly Observed Treatment) program. Group meetings with patients, volunteers, an Infectious Diseases physician, a psychologist and a social worker are being held twice a month. Sexuality, power relations, poverty, lack of work, drug and alcohol use are some of the issued being discussed during these meetings.

LESSONS LEARNED: Peer presence has been essential not only in the treatments but also as support to patients' care, rights, access to information and medication as well as understanding of the various needs.

CONCLUSIONS: This project based on peer support, which has been undertaken successfully can easily be transferred to other waiting rooms at any hospital. Volunteers living with HIV/AIDS also benefit from this activity, acting as part of the care-providing team.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Voluntary Workers, HIV Infections, Hospitals, Human Rights, Health Services Needs and Demand, Health Services, Research, Behavior, Counseling, Poverty, Argentina, Humans, organization & administration, education, psychology

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MoOrD1063