Participation in a Self-management Intervention for People Living With HIV

Identifying Key Elements to Inform the Development of an HIV Health Behavior Maintenance Intervention

“…Although the majority of participants in TPLW knew basic information about HIV transmission and care and had completed the critical tasks of linking to primary care and initiating ART, 38 participants expressed an interest in an ongoing maintenance intervention to help sustain the self-management behaviors addressed in the workshop. Based on their feedback, the following elements should be considered in developing an intervention to support HIV-related health behavior maintenance among PLWH: providing “advanced” HIV medical information (eg, ART updates, comorbid conditions); addressing the following as motivators for health-promoting behaviors: a sense of responsibility to protect self and others from illness, the desire to stay healthy to be able to engage in pleasurable activities and spend time with family members, and faith/spirituality; promoting the importance of treating substance use/mental health issues; providing opportunities to help other PLWH (eg, youth, newly diagnosed); offering assistance with financial management/employment; and providing opportunities for in-person contact with other PLWH …”