Challenges When Working With HIV Patients, Essay Example

While HIV is a commonly spoken term, there are a number of misconceptions and faulty beliefs. Research has created a great amount of education and enlightened medical professionals as well as general public; however the disease is still commonly misconstrued. Along with faulty information, there are also incorrect assumptions and ignorance that play a role in the daily life of HIV patients, as well as their caregivers. This paper will explore common challenges that may be encountered when working with patients suffering from HIV.

The push and need for education and services has been the cornerstone of the HIV epidemic for many years. From the numerous scares to the alarms that have scared the mass public, there is a great deal of information circulating. The problem with information and circulation is the inability to control the quality of such. In the early days of diagnosis, there were many assumptions about the disease. According to John Manuel Andriote, there has been a devastating understatement of understanding in relation to the far reaching effects of HIV and Aids (2011). Andriote, points out that the attempt to “de-gay” society has allowed for individuals to make assumptions about the origins of the disease and whom it “targets”, all the time, while truly not understanding the disease (2011). The issue arises due to the belief that the disease is targeted primarily at Africans or gay men, and not developing an understanding of the true reach of the disease. Not only does this hinder progress, it also creates difficulty when working with those suffering from the disease. Being diagnosed and properly treated comes through the truth of the disease and understanding that it is not only passed through certain groups of people.

As Androite further notes, “de-gaying” worked because it turned the attention to a disease of “gay”, however it created a hindrance because it leaves many undiagnosed and therefore at risk of death. Patients and individuals must understand the importance of treatment regardless of their sexual preference or class within society. By pointing fingers and labeling the disease, it has provided a sense of false safety and security. Turning back the beliefs and conceptions that came three decades ago, may be quite difficult, however necessary to appropriately educate. Without that change, professionals will continue having difficulty in appropriately treating and reaching all groups suffering from the disease.

Legal equality, confidentiality and ethics are all strong bonds that have been present throughout the discovery and treatment of individuals suffering from communicable diseases. There have been a number of barriers that have created numerous difficulties in the treatment and serving of those with HIV. According to Larry Mass, a New York physician, there is limited leadership for gay and bisexual men (Andriote, 2011). The threat is still very much alive and the push or need to decrease transmission rate could actually lead to improper testing and/or treatment. There is a great need for public safety and security and at times this comes with a price for those that may be at risk. Andriote points out that there are media outlets that incorrectly portray those living with HIV, which sends the wrong or incorrect message to others. This could greatly stunt the urgency and assist in covering the true need of those affected. If individuals have incorrect information or beliefs about treatment, testing and diagnosis, it can greatly stunt government intervention, activism and even equality. This leaves the public as well as patient misinformed and the professional with the need to rectify the inaccuracy. This can create a stunted treatment phase and even potentially encourage a patient to leave treatment all together.

Ethics and confidentiality are also at play in this difficult issue. There is a need for confidentiality and appropriate treatment; however there is also a need to serve those that may be infected with the disease. Treatment must be based on honesty and trust, and if individuals are not trusting of those treating them, it can greatly affect the amount of disclosure and information that is relayed, between professional and patient. According to Beder, there is a need to treat the whole patient and they must be seen as a multi-dimensional individual (2006). This is important because regardless of the disease or ailment there are a multitude of issues and factors to consider during treatment. This honesty and disclosure may be hindered because of the nature of the disease and embarrassment. When individuals are suffering they of course need help when various agencies and many find it appropriate to seek that help. There are others that have difficulty in seeking help or being completely honest because of the stigma and negative connotation that is commonly held in regards to HIV.  Along with improper information, this can greatly hinder a patient’s treatment due to obvious reasons. Without proper information and background the individual may not be treated appropriately, and therefore decrease the efficiency of their treatment.

In conclusion, there are a number of issues that can hinder or greatly stunt treatment of those suffering from HIV. Along with the various misconceptions and shortcomings of treatment, they can also suffer when a lack of treatment is offered. With the numerous cuts to budgets and faulty beliefs about the disease, many have found that there is improper treatment and address to numerous diseases. This can prove cumbersome to professionals when assisting these patients in deriving the services that they need. Along with the most basic fears of the individual suffering, such as embarrassment, there are also other social aspects that patients may cover which can hinder progress. It is important that these barriers be addressed and understood to assist those suffering with HIV in a positive as well as professional manner.

References

Andriote, J.M. (2011, December 2). Is there still an AIDS crisis in the U.S. It depends on who you are. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/12/is- there-still-an-aids-crisis-in-the-us-it-depends-on-who-you-are/249304/.

Andriote, J.M. (2011, November 30). AIDS: Still a gay disease in America. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/11/aids-still-a-gay-disease-in-america/249242/.

Beder, J. (2006). Hospital social work: The interface of medicine and caring. New York: Routledge.