Welcome, everyone, to the second National HIV Nursing Journal Supplement. It is a privilege to be involved in this exciting edition.
I am constantly inspired by the stories I hear of high-quality, compassionate care being delivered to patients living with HIV. I have been struck countless times by the dedication and commitment HIV nurses have shown over the past few years, despite such challenging times, both in my role as the chair of National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA) and as clinical services manager to the HIV community specialist service in Sussex. It really is a privilege to support nurses to deliver high-quality HIV treatment and care.
This month we will be holding our face-to-face NHIVNA conference in Cardiff. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. This is an opportunity for you both to learn and to connect with colleagues across the UK.
In this supplement we have some very current, relevant and informative articles by inspiring authors who have worked in the HIV field for many years.
We have all watched the reports from the war in Ukraine in despair and horror. It has left many of us feeling completely helpless. The war has disrupted and dismantled health services. As HIV professionals, our thoughts have been with those living with HIV in Ukraine and the impact on HIV services delivering treatment and support. Antiretroviral therapy (ART), if taken as prescribed, reduces the viral load to a very low level, which keeps the immune system working and prevents illness. This is described as an undetectable viral load and means that a person living with HIV cannot transmit HIV to someone else through sexual contact. Without treatment, people can become very unwell and there is also the risk of onward transmission.
This supplement includes an article highlighting just how the war has impacted on people living with HIV in Ukraine. Ukraine has one of the highest rates of HIV in Europe, with an estimated 250 000 people living with HIV, predominantly among those that use illicit drugs. The article discusses the fact that more than 40 health facilities that offer HIV services are now closed due to the impact of the war. Ensuring the supply of ART to people living with HIV in Ukraine is vital.
As clinical services manager for one of the HIV community specialist services, I was very interested in the article on good health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for people living with HIV. The article considers existing definitions of HRQoL and suggests a way to conceptualise HRQoL in people living with HIV, based on the biopsychosocial model.
As HIV health professionals, our aim is that our services constantly evolve to meet the holistic needs of our patients in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. This supplement includes an article on patient-centred care in HIV nursing. It considers how therapeutic relationships are developed between the nurse and patient and focuses on the importance of providing non-judgemental, stigma-free, person-centred care in order for people to experience positive health outcomes.
I am personally passionate about robust multidisciplinary working and actively encourage this in my own HIV service. There is something beautiful about a group of health professionals from various disciplines, outside of the HIV field, coming together to look after our patients and, in turn, delivering the highest standard of care possible. As our patients grow older and their health needs become more complex, it is vital that they receive appropriate care at the right time and, more often than not, this will be non-HIV specialist care. Therefore, we have a responsibility as HIV specialist nurses to ensure robust co-ordination of care and to communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams both in the acute and community sectors. A discussion article reflects on interdisciplinary working in HIV health care. Examples of practical interdisciplinary approaches are provided to demonstrate that working in an interdisciplinary way best serves the complex and inter-relating needs of the HIV population. There is great value in forming robust professional relationships and this in turn will fully address the changing needs of the HIV population.
We hope you enjoy reading this supplement and we would love to hear from you. Please do get in touch with us (via bjn@markallengroup.com).