Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-related counselling in a workplace-based ART implementation programme, South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID19441283
AuthorsA L Stenson (a London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , UK), Amy Stenson (0000-0002-7838-5700, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), Salome Charalambous (0000-0001-7143-1009, Aurum Institute), T Dwadwa (b Aurum Health Research , Johannesburg , South Africa), L Pemba (b Aurum Health Research , Johannesburg , South Africa), J D Du Toit (c Anglogold Health Services , South Africa), Jonathan Du Toit (0000-0001-5427-2659, AngloGold Ashanti (South Africa)), Rachel Baggaley (0000-0001-6320-3444, Christian Aid), Anne D Grant (0000-0002-2437-5195, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Gavin Churchyard (0000-0002-4269-3699, Aurum Institute), G J Churchyard (b Aurum Health Research , Johannesburg , South Africa)
Year2005
Volume17
Issue8
Pages949-957
Publication date2005-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540120500100940
PMID16176891
OpenAlexW2019061964
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited3

Counselling about antiretroviral therapy (ART) is thought important to prepare patients for treatment and enhance adherence. A workplace-based HIV care programme in South Africa instituted a three-step ART counselling protocol with guidelines prompting issues to be covered at each step. We carried out an early evaluation of ART counselling to determine whether patients understood key information about ART, and the perceptions that patients and health care professionals (HCP) had of the process. Among 40 patients (median time on ART 83 days), over 90% answered 6/7 HIV/ART knowledge-related questions correctly. 95% thought counselling sessions were good. 93% thought ongoing counselling was important. Recommendations included the need for continuing education about HIV/ART, being respectful, promoting HIV testing and addressing the issues of infected partners and stigma. 24 participating HCP identified additional training needs including counselling of family and friends, family planning, sexually transmitted infections and running support groups. 90% of HCP thought that counselling guidelines were helpful. The programme appears to be preparing patients well for ART. Counselling should be offered at every clinic visit. Counselling guidelines were a valuable tool and may be useful elsewhere. The evaluation helped to assess the quality of the programme and to suggest areas for improvement

Antiretroviral therapy · Art Therapy · Family medicine · Medical education · Perception · Physical therapy · Psychiatry · Viral load · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology