Facilitator Guide - EngenderHealth

Activity B15 minutes1. Facilitate a brief discussion using the following questions:Why should we inform and educate clients about side effects? Important messagesto give if not identified by participants• It's the client's right to know in order to make an informed decision about ART.• Clients can better prepare themselves.• Clients can better understand that not all side effects present the same level ofseriousness or long-term impact.• Clients are partners in managing their therapy and they need information andeducation to be able to self-manage, when appropriate.• Clients can better understand the importance of seeking help early.• Knowing about side effects empowers clients to feel more in control of their condition.• Clients are aware of drug interaction between commonly used ART medicines (likeNevirapine) and medicines used to treat TB infection (eg. Rifampicin)• Most importantly, clients understand the risk of treatment failure if they stop takingthe drugs without first discussing options with the clinical team.What might be the consequences of side effects on clients? Importantmessages to give if not identified by participants• Clients can become very worried that the therapy is making them feel worse thanHIV, especially in the initial phases of ART.• Clients may seek information from unreliable sources and they may get wronginformation.• Clients may get discouraged and depressed.• Clients may stop taking their treatment correctly without seeking help or advice, andthis will increase the risk of treatment failure.• Clients may start "forgetting" to take their treatment, or stop it altogether.Facilitator Guide4Adherence to Treatment for HIVWhat is the first thing to do if clients complain about side effects?Key message to give if not identified by participants:We must take their complaints seriously. We must help them to findways to manage their treatment.101