Discuss The Drug Treatments for HIV/AIDS

Week 8
discussion

Discussion: Drug Treatments for HIV/AIDS

While HIV/AIDS is still currently incurable, the prognosis
for patients with this infectious disease has improved due to advancements in
drug treatments. Consider the case of Kristy Aney. Kristy was diagnosed with
HIV in 1992 and was told she would survive, at most, 10 more years. Despite
unfavorable odds, Kristy is still alive 20 years later. Since her diagnosis,
she has witnessed tremendous improvements in HIV/AIDS treatments which have
helped patients live longer with fewer side effects. While she acknowledges
that these drug treatments have kept her alive, she fears that improvements in
drug therapy have led to more people becoming complacent about the disease
(Idaho Statesmen, 2012). In fact, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in
the United States is higher than it has ever been (CDC, 2012). This poses the
question: Is there a relationship between drug advancements, societal
complacency, and infection?

To prepare:

Review Chapter 49 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text, as
well as the Krummenacher et al. and Scourfield articles in the Learning
Resources.

Reflect on whether or not the prevalence of HIV cases might
be attributed to increased complacency due to more advanced drug treatment
options for HIV/AIDS.

Consider how health care professionals can help to change
perceptions and make people more aware of the realities of the disease.

Think about strategies to educate HIV positive patients on
medication adherence, as well as safe practices to reduce the risk of infecting
others.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post an explanation of whether or not you think the
prevalence of HIV cases might be attributed to increased complacency due to
more advanced drug treatment options.Then, explain how health care
professionals can help to change perceptions and increase awareness of the
realities of the disease. Finally, describe strategies to educate HIV positive
patients on medication adherence, as well as safe practices to reduce the risk
of infecting others.

By Day 6

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond
to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who provided a
different rationale than you did, in one or more of the following ways:

Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings
from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional
research.