THE BEST APPROACH TO HIV STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION
With more HIV treatment and prevention options available than ever before, now is the time for more open and honest conversations between individuals and their healthcare providers (HCPs).
When people feel comfortable asking HCPs questions about options for HIV treatment or prevention and can talk more openly about their daily routines and needs, it can have a significant impact on medication satisfaction, adherence and overall health. But three in four people living with HIV say there’s at least one issue they’re uncomfortable discussing with their HCP and many people don’t bring up sexual health and safe sex practices during their appointments1. For HCPs, it can be difficult to uncover their patients’ experiences, needs and wants, whether they are managing clinical aspects like viral load or determining if PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is right for them.
Finding the optimal HIV treatment or prevention option involves more than reviewing data and clinical measures. Many things can impact a person’s experience and what option will work best for them, including daily schedules, experiences of stigma, other medicines and long-term health goals.
Most importantly, what is needed for people considering HIV prevention or treatment options is a trusted relationship with their HCP, built on understanding and empathy, with a willingness to tackle the difficult questions together. Check out our conversation guides to help open up this important discussion, whether you’re a patient or an HCP.
Living with and preventing HIV has changed. People today can expect more from their HIV medicines. We want people living with HIV — or those who could benefit from PrEP — to feel comfortable asking for more, raising their concerns or long-term health goals and for HCPs to consider the different options available for patients. We want to start the conversations.
TALKING ABOUT HIV
A woman born with HIV; two women, one cisgender and one of transgender experience, navigating the world of HIV PrEP; a single father living with HIV; a devoted doctor who has been focused on HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. These are real conversations and real stories that highlight the value of creating strong relationships between providers and people wanting to treat or prevent HIV.
We partnered with The Skin Deep to bring together people living with HIV, people with reasons for HIV prevention and HCPs to explore their relationships and challenge how they connect when it comes to talking about HIV treatment and prevention — tackling the difficult questions together. These conversations are emotional. They can be uncomfortable. Sometimes they’re joyful! But most importantly, these conversations are real and the result of bringing people together to talk about HIV.
Take a peek inside the conversations and explore tools for how to strengthen relationships in HIV care.
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From Stigma to Strength: Women’s Perspectives on HIV
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Transforming HIV Care: The Power of Love and Understanding
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Facing HIV: Stories of Support and Safe Spaces
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Navigating HIV Together: A Patient-Doctor Journey
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Breaking Barriers: A Conversation on HIV Prevention and Inclusive Healthcare
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I Am More Than My Diagnosis: Living with HIV
Mercy, born with HIV, and Vanessa, an HIV Healthcare Professional, meet for the first time and discuss the need for HIV treatment choice, the impact of both social and self-stigma on maternity and pregnancy and the importance of healthcare professionals getting to know their patients on a personal level to nurture and provide the best possible care for their patients.
Garry, living with HIV, and his doctor Laura, explore how we can all contribute to building a more supportive, understanding, human, and empathetic environment for everyone navigating life with HIV. Together they talk about the importance of speaking up, combatting the misunderstanding around HIV, the value of HCPs listening to their patients and how treatments have changed over the years.
Antar, an advocate for people living with HIV, and Zandraetta, an HIV Healthcare Professional, discuss the difficulty of creating safe spaces—physically, emotionally, and free from judgment—where people living with HIV can openly share their experiences and receive the support they truly need and deserve. They connect through their commitment to sharing prevention and care information about HIV within their communities and the critical need for better conversations about sex and safety.
Rebecca and her doctor, Sanjay, discuss how they have built a strong bond that allows them to enjoy each other’s company, be radically honest with one another, and navigate Rebecca’s HIV journey together. They discuss how advances in HIV medicines have transformed many people’s outlook on life, reinforce the importance of openness and clarity between doctors and patients to ensure the best care possible, and talk about the importance of treating the person in front of you and not the diagnosis.
Angélique and Mikki have known each other for several years. Their work focuses primarily on HIV prevention and creating safe spaces where HIV patients feel comfortable enough to be honest and open about their experiences and circumstances. Together they have a powerful discussion about the need for more inclusive healthcare practices, where people feel acknowledged, respected and listened to.
Virgil, a single father speaks about the judgment and inequality that he and other people living with HIV often face. Lance shares his approach to patient care, emphasizing the importance of seeing and addressing the person and their humanity before their diagnosis. Both acknowledge each other’s perspectives and experiences, relating to stigma and the misunderstanding around HIV that continues to fuel their commitment to their important work.
START YOUR OWN CONVERSATIONS
There are more options available today than ever before for HIV treatment and prevention, and having an open and honest discussion about what patients want from their medicine is an important first step to finding an option that meets their needs. Download and use these resources, available for both patients and HCPs, to help facilitate and improve these conversations about HIV treatment and prevention.
SPEAK UP WITH YOUR HCP ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED
Advocate for yourself and take charge of the conversation.
HCPS, DIG DEEP TO LEARN WHAT MAY GO UNSAID
Better understand what contributes to therapy satisfaction and help your patients open up about their needs.
Guide for HCPs Discussing HIV Prevention Options
Explore what is important for your patients to get out of their prevention medication, beyond just efficacy, and what could be the best fit for their lives.
Guide for HCPs Speaking with People Living with HIV
Consider the many factors of treatment satisfaction and have an honest conversation about whether their treatment is meeting their needs beyond viral suppression.
EXPLORE MORE TOOLS
Talking to your doctor about your HIV and working together with your healthcare team to understand what's going on within your body may be the best way to get the most from your HIV care.
Once you've settled into your treatment regimen and the virus is undetectable, you’ll likely only need to visit your clinic once or twice a year. Some of these appointments may even be online or over the phone.
At ViiV Healthcare, our goal is ambitious, yet clear: we want to end the HIV epidemic. We believe we have the tools to achieve this goal through continuous innovation, talented people and global partnerships that help us reach the communities that are disproportionately impacted by HIV. We must keep investing in the global HIV response.
References:
- ViiV Healthcare. Positive Perspectives Study, Wave 2 Results Report. Available at: https://viivhealthcare.com/content/dam/cf-viiv/viivhealthcare/en_GB/files/211203-updated-pp2-report-v9.0.pdf. Last accessed: September 2024.
