HIVtoday - What every HCP should know about HIV
HIVtoday is a new website which provides healthcare professionals with free, up-to-date information and training on HIV.
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT explores what can be done to make sure all healthcare professionals have a good understanding of HIV, and how HIVtoday can help.
"HIV is a chronic disease for which now there is very effective treatment, with good quality of life and life expectancy. However, if people are undiagnosed (approximately 25%) and not on treatment, it can cause severe and life threatening illness. HIVtoday is a valuable and very educational resource for Primary Care regarding HIV, the prevalence of which is still increasing at an alarming rate."
Dr David Mummery,
West London GP
The changing face of HIV
HIV in the UK today is a complex, forever changing issue. On the one hand treatment is improving. On the other hand there is still no vaccine or cure and, with the worrying lack of public knowledge around HIV, the epidemic continues to spread.
With the number of people living with HIV in the UK set to rise to 100,000 by the end of 20121 - a quarter of whom will be unaware they have the virus2 - several reports have been released this year to highlight the problem and suggest solutions.
The reports agree that there is a need for clear, concise and accurate information about HIV to be made available both to the public, and to healthcare professionals in order to combat the spread of the virus in the UK.
Prevention is key
The Ipsos MORI report released earlier this year showed that many people don't have sufficient knowledge about HIV to protect themselves and others:
"1 in 5 people do not know HIV can be transmitted through sex without a condom between a man and a woman or between two men"3
The report concludes that public awareness about transmission needs improving if we are to prevent the spread of the virus and the misconceptions which fuel stigma and discrimination.
Also released this year was the House of Lords Select Committee on HIV and AIDs in the UK delivered, No vaccine, no cure: HIV and AIDS in the United Kingdom. The report agreed that public knowledge was low, and acknowledged that with no vaccine or cure likely within the next decade:
"Prevention should be at the forefront of the response to HIV"4
HCP training is vital
The Government produced a response to a House of Lords Select Committee Report, noting that training and education for healthcare professionals is key to ensuring they are more confident and able to deal with HIV:4
Identifying those at risk and those with symptoms of HIV infection
Recommending and administering tests, and
Managing treatment (where appropriate)
Providing the right information
NAT and Durex wholeheartedly support the recommendations of these reports. As part of our commitment to improve the sexual health of the UK, we have worked in partnership to produce two tailored websites that provide accurate, up to date information and training.
Following the success of HIVaware – providing the public with the information about HIV that everyone should know – we have produced HIVtoday to help address the information and training needs of healthcare professionals.
"This website is really important for GPs and the Primary Care team as many people with undiagnosed HIV are seen every day in Primary care. If much more HIV testing was done in the community and made part of a routine "health check", and if testing was totally de-stigmatised, this would prevent many more late diagnoses of people with HIV who may have serious complications they might be totally unaware of."
Dr David Mummery,
West London GP
HIVtoday –
free information and training for healthcare professionals
Drawing upon our years of HIV experience, and hosted on DurexHCP.co.uk, HIVtoday is a free online training module that will give healthcare professionals all the information they need to answer everyday questions about HIV. It includes:
HIV facts that every healthcare professional should know
Model answers to common questions from colleagues and the public
Online assessment of your knowledge with a certificate as evidence of your CPD
Comprehensive content
The module covers a wide range of topics from helping patients protect themselves and others from infection to supporting patients who have been diagnosed with HIV:
1. HIV in the UK
Key facts and stats
2. Routes of transmission
Frequent, unlikely and impossible transmission routes
3. Occupational exposure
Minimising the risk to healthcare professionals and responding to possible exposure
4. Symptoms of HIV infection
What to look out for 10-21 days post exposure, and further down the line
5. Testing
When, where and how tests take place. Information on implications of late diagnosis
With all the changes that have occurred in HIV over recent years, you may have colleagues who would like to update their knowledge about HIV. If you do, please direct them to www.durexhcp.co.uk/HIVtoday.
6. Managing treatment and prescribing
Anti-retroviral treatment, adherence, drug interactions, social care and psychological support
7. Confidentiality
Who should know about someone's HIV status, and the patient's right to privacy
8. Pregnancy and children
Preventing HIV transmission to a baby and treating children affected by HIV
9. Work
Equality rights and occupational restrictions
"A very comprehensive and useful resource for doctors, nurses and health care professionals. It will help us provide better care to our patients and also improve the rate of early diagnosis."
Kate Adams,
London GP
About the Author
Deborah Jack is Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust). Before joining NAT in December 2003, Deborah worked at Brook - the sexual health charity for young people - as Head of Policy & Campaigns and Deputy Chief Executive.
References:
Health Protection Agency. HIV will hit 100,000 in 2012. Article June 2011. http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2011PressReleases/110606HIV/ Accessed November 2011.
Health Protection Agency. HIV in the United Kingdom (2010 Report). Volume 4 Number 47. Published on: 26 November 2010.
Ipsos MORI. Public attitudes towards HIV. A study for the National AIDS Trust by Ipsos MORI. January 2011.
House of Lords. 2011. Select Committee on HIV and AIDS in the United Kingdom.
Article release date: 1st December 2011