Feasibility of Four Interventions to Improve Treatment Adherence in Migrants Living with HIV in The Netherlands

We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of four existing interventions to improve adherence to them in migrants living with HIV (MLWH): directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART), group medical appointments (GMA), early detection and treatment of psychological distress, and peer support by trained MLWH. At baseline and after the interventions, socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial variables, and data on HIV treatment adherence were collected. The two questionnaires were completed by 234/301 (78%) MLWH included at baseline. Detectable HIV RNA decreased (from 10.3 to 6.8%) as did internalized HIV-related stigma (from 15 to 14 points), and self-reported adherence increased (between 5.5 and 8.3%). DAART and GMA were not feasible interventions. Screening of psychological distress was feasible; however, follow-up diagnostic screening and linkage to psychiatric services were not. Peer support for and by MLWH was feasible. Within this small intervention group, results on HIV RNA < 400 copies/mL (decrease of 23.6%) and outpatient clinic attendance (up to 20.4% kept more appointments) were promising.

A Qualitative Evaluation of Patient Experiences With Group Medical and Individual Education Appointments for Type 2 Diabetes Management in Saskatchewan, Canada

Purpose The purpose of this study was to capture information on patient experiences and perspectives of group medical appointments (GMAs) and compare them to those attending individual appointments (IAs) with the diabetes education team (usual care) for managing type 2 diabetes. Methods Adults (N = 18; 61% male; 83% 50-70 years old ) with type 2 diabetes (or prediabetes) living in rural Saskatchewan were recruited to complete a semistructured interview on their experiences with GMAs or IAs. To be eligible to participate, individuals must have attended at least 2 GMAs or 2 IAs. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using content analysis. Results Overall, participants spoke highly of their respective appointment type. Results indicated that both appointment types positively influenced understanding of diabetes management, with the most notable difference being greater understanding of stress management in the GMAs. Participants identified several positive aspects of each appointment type, which included convenience, supportive and enjoyable, and informative for GMAs and time and tailored information for IAs. Participants provided some suggestions to improve diabetes related-care for their respective appointment type. Conclusions Participants of GMAs and IAs for type 2 diabetes each reported unique strengths to their respective care plan and reported benefiting from their care.

Group medical appointments: A novel approach in patient education for adjuvant endocrine therapy.

133 Background: Group medical appointments (GMA) are currently practiced for a wide range of medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. Previously, postmenopausal estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients (ERBCP) attended individual physician clinic appointments to learn about their options for adjuvant endocrine therapy. This resulted in variable education provided, lengthy medical oncologist (MO) clinic visits and significant wait-lists to attend clinic. Accordingly, we embarked on a pilot program to determine the feasibility and acceptability of GMA in this patient population. Methods: Since 2010, ERBCP requiring endocrine therapy were referred and scheduled in the biweekly GMA program. Education regarding choices, risks, benefits and side effects of endocrine therapy were provided by a nurse practitioner (NP) and/or pharmacist (RX). After questions were solicited from the group, individual ERBCP were provided with prescriptions and scheduled for guideline-based follow-up. Results: Approximately 900 ERBCP have attended GMA, with 100% of MOs referring eligible patients. Surveys indicate high levels of satisfaction with the information provided and the GMA format. Conclusions: GMA provided by NP and/or RX is feasible and acceptable to both ERBCP and MOs. Health system benefits include increased efficiency and reduced cost, with MO clinic reserved for complex patient needs. Patient benefits include timely access to care and high levels of reported satisfaction. Future work will examine the effects of GMA on patient compliance and medication reconciliation with endocrine therapy.