A LETTER TO MY HEALTHCARE TEAM
Dear healthcare team,
I am writing this letter to thank you for supporting me, and countless other people living with HIV, to take control of my health and lead a long and healthy life. By sharing my thoughts on how communication between healthcare teams and patients can be improved, I hope other people living with HIV can have similar experiences and benefit like I have.
Get to know your patients from every angle
People living with HIV can lead rich, vibrant, and crucially very different lives. There are many external factors that need to be taken into consideration when deciding if a treatment will best suit our needs. I believe overall ‘good health’ is achieved when there is a balance between physical, mental, social and spiritual health. While maintaining viral suppression is important, addressing physical health alone is not always enough. By encouraging discussions that focus on both health and well-being, you can support people living with HIV to make better lifestyle changes and find a treatment that works for them.
Knowing the right questions to ask can make a difference
Appointments are often short and infrequent, so it’s important patients feel supported and listened to, and that you encourage them to be open and honest about all aspects of their health and wellbeing. For many people living with HIV, especially those who are newly diagnosed, visiting an HCP can be a daunting task. That’s why it’s crucial that HCPs know what questions to ask in order help build a strong relationship with their patients. By encouraging an open dialogue, you can begin to truly understand the diverse wants and needs of your patients and ultimately make better informed treatment decisions.
If it's the first appointment, consider asking:
- What are your pronouns?
- Are there any ground rules or things to consider which you would like to establish for our partnership?
- How would you like me to share information with you?
- How can I adequately support and help you?
These types of questions can help set a baseline for your relationship with your patients and are foundational for building trust. After the first appointment, asking if anything has changed since your previous meeting or whether there was anything that wasn’t discussed previously before moving onto the next topic can help to structure the discussion and uncover pressing issues that patients need to unpack. Crucially, creating a supportive environment that encourages patients to ask their own questions is vital in achieving the best possible care for your patients.
Learn to listen attentively! Listen out for what is not being said by patients. Try and notice any changes in behaviour between your appointments and ask gentle but informed questions to get to the heart of sensitive issues. Active listening can help to address the often-overlooked health issues that prevent people living with HIV from living their best possible lives.
Make sure the information you’re sharing is clear and accessible
For your patients to feel empowered and to get the most out of their appointment, take extra care to ensure they fully understand the information being provided. If a patient is having difficulty understanding their HIV, or their treatment, avoid complex medical terminology and try to relate to them in a way that works for them. Most importantly, ask your patient if they understand. This is crucial for ensuring that care and treatment can be administered safely and effectively, along with addressing any misconceptions that could affect adherence.
As someone who can find it difficult to articulate how I am feeling, I find it helpful to document my symptoms in between appointments in a more visual way. You may want to encourage your patients to use a symptom tracker, a body map, or even writing or recording notes on their phones if they are struggling to relay information. A constant and easily interpreted flow of information is crucial for both patient and physician to maintain a holistic approach to healthcare.
Communication is a two-way street
It is important for my healthcare provider to know me. They need to know my lifestyle, what makes me tick, what my family life is like. But I also need to know about the person I’m speaking to. A HCP sharing an aspect about themselves and their lives not only makes them more personable, but also contributes to building mutual trust between both parties with no fear of judgement. People living with HIV may not want to open up about their sexual, psychological or social experiences with someone they do not fully trust.
Having that foundation for open, honest conversations can also benefit physicians, as they can feel open to telling their patients whatever they want without fear of hesitation.
If we see each other as partners in care, we can work together to improve my quality of life, but we need to be patient with each other when building that relationship. Trust is not built in a day, it takes time and requires patience, but it is worth it in the end.
As I close this letter, I want to express my gratitude for having a team of people dedicated to ensuring that I am in the best health I can be. I hope my perspective on creating relationships built on trust, and fostering engaging and holistic conversations between HCPs and patients, can lead to empowering even more people living with HIV to speak up and find treatment plans that works for them. Achieving a better quality of life is possible and it depends on a supportive, informative and respectful care network.
With thanks,
Marvelous Muchenje, Community Relations Manager, ViiV Healthcare Canada
NP-GBL-HVX-COCO-230015
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the GSK Reporting Tool link https://gsk.public.reportum.com/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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