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The Center for Minority Studies has always been dedicated to increasing health literacy and awareness in the community. The organization has taken a great interest in the area of HIV/AIDS since its inception. Within this area, the organization has taken pioneering steps in HIV/AIDS adherence and education. From within the community, it has been noticed that there is an extreme lack of education in the area of HIV/AIDS. This lack of education has led to false impressions and misunderstandings in the area of HIV/AIDS. This program was created to educate clients about the disease of HIV/AIDS, medication associated with the disease, and the definition and importance of adherence. This program is one of the organization’s biggest assets as well as the primary reason the organization specializes in these types of services.
The Center for Minority Studies HIV/AIDS Empowerment Program is a health literacy program for HIV infected patients. It’s a mobile treatment adherence service that combines group educational sessions with individual consultations to educate participants on strategies to optimize treatment for HIV/AIDS. The health topics presented include but are not limited to:
- Basic facts of HIV/AIDS
- Maximizing Adherence Treatment
- Option for HIV/AIDS
- New Medication Update
- All or Nothing- Defining Non-Adherence
- Monitoring your therapy
- Opportunistic infections/risk reductions
Treatment adherence specialists have provides countless interventions through the provision of individual counseling session. Interventions include but not limited to:
Reviewing HAART Regimens, Adherence Enhancement, Side Effect Management, Drug/Food Interaction, Drug/Drug Interaction, Drug/Herb Interaction, Referral to Support Services, and Referral to Primary Care. During these sessions, clinical pharmacists, who function as treatment adherence specialists, work with clients to teach them how to effectively manage HIV on their own. Specific services rendered include medication counseling, filling pill boxes, side effect management, monitoring lab reports, and referral to primary care, and support services including but not limited to:
substance abuse counseling, nutrition therapy, support groups, and housing assistance. Lastly the Center for Minority Studies Empowerment Program has provided several provider-focused training on the components of treatment adherence services including identifying barriers to adherence and updates on the medication used to treat HIV.
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