Evaluation of HIV-AIDS Core Team (HACT) program of Research Institute for Tropical Medicine / Lorela D. Mendoza 6

Thesis (M.A.) -- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2011;A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Nursing 56

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ABSTRACT: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) nowadays is prevalent globally. Various approaches and programs are being implemented to hurdle the challenges brought by the AIDS phenomena. In the Philippine scenario, the HIV-AIDS Core Team program is one of those measures being carried out to patients. The present study generally aimed to evaluate the HIV-AIDS Core Team (HACT) in Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. Specifically, it sought to answer the following sub problems: (1) What is socio demographic profile of the HIV/AIDS RITM patient-respondents in terms of gender, sexual preference, educational attainment, clinical category and occupation? (2) How do the respondents evaluate the HIV-AIDS Core Team (HACT) program along counseling, treatment, health education and monitoring? (3) Is there a significant difference in the respondents' evaluation of HACT program when grouped according to the socio demographic profile? (4) Based on the results of the study, what action plan can be formulated? This research is limited to RITM HIV/AIDS patients. Target sample were obtained through a purposive sampling technique utilizing the following inclusion criteria: (1) those HIV-AIDS patients with CD4 count below 200, (2) those who are on antiretroviral drugs, (3) those who are willing to sign the informed consent, and (4) those of legal age. A pre-tested and validated survey questionnaire was utilized in order to obtain the needed information. Data collection period was from November to December. Collected data were encoded in a matrix and were treated using descriptive statistics such as means, frequency and percentage and inferential statistics such as t test and Analysis of Variance. Generally, results showed that there is a significant difference in the evaluation of the HACT program when respondents are grouped according gender, educational attainment and occupation. Moreover, there is no significant difference in evaluation of the HACT program when respondents are grouped according to sexual preference and clinical category. A careful perusal of the results and conclusions lead to the following recommendations: (1) That reorientation of nurses and re-conceptualization of implementing strategies be done by hospital administrators in order to address the weaknesses on the implementation particularly on involving significant others in the group dynamics as part of counseling, educating clients on the latest trends, providing options on medication choice, and strengthening monitoring of patients; (2) That advocating practices must also be looked into so as to establish better advocacy in the implementation of the HACT program; (3) That individualistic approach of the HACT program be considered particularly those HIV-AIDS classification who showed low evaluation on the HACT program; (4) That the findings of the study be presented to the health care personnel; (5) That a similar study be conducted among HIV-AIDS clients in other institutions, utilizing the same variables of the study and to consider some of the limitations that the present researcher have established.

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