"Contributing to Patients' Well-Being and Coping Skills in Pediatric HIV Clinic: Educational Supplies and Tools that Make a Difference"

A positive ?therapeutic alliance? is critical to health outcomes. As part of our responsibility to highest quality of care?the foundation of which is the patient-provider relationship?we want our patients to know they are appreciated and that their well-being matters to us. For our youngest HIV positive patients, we provide at each visit an item that might help take the pinch out of the needle stick, such as a stuffed animal, toy, or ?squeeze ball? that helps teach relaxation skills. For our teen and young adult patients, pill and condom cases are ?must have? supplies, towards promoting medication adherence and safer sex. For new mothers, a package of diapers and wipes conveys goodwill and helps out in a time of need. All patients receive age-appropriate educational tools (e.g., books, DVDs) to help them cope with and manage their disease. Finally, because our patient population has limited financial means, these items are considered luxuries, and therefore would not be available otherwise.

Scholars @ ECU