• Consider electronic pillboxes and reminders.
• Aim for simplified dosing strategies.
• Recognize that flexible clinic hours, accessible clinical staff, and availability of bilingual staff help support adherence in special populations.
• Have medical assistants ask patients about goals when taking vital signs.
• Be sure that providers briefly review self-management goals with patients.
• Assign staff to arrange follow-up with patients.
• Document goal setting in the registry. Include some specifics about the goals and the date(s).
• Ensure that staff are comfortable with the self-management philosophy and trained in behavioral techniques to support patients.
• Train culturally informed lay health workers to set goals with patients.
• Be sure that the planning tool selected is sensitive to issues of culture and language.
• Be aware that you may need to adapt titles or contents of tools for cultural sensitivity (e.g., use term "Promise" rather than "Contract" for goal-setting tool).
• Provide patients with calenders if necessary.
• Think incrementally about behavior change. Encourage patients to take small steps and build confidence through success.
• Work with patients to define goals. Don't prescribe goals or use checklists.
• Include family and caregivers in setting goals.
• Use groups for patient goal-setting.
• Encourage up-front team input on materials.
• Coordinate patient education with the center's care guidelines.
• Clarify team roles for self-management early on.
• Ask patients to bring materials with them to every visit for review of use.
• Remove outdated educational materials from the clinic.
• Make materials available to patients, families, and providers by placing them in examining rooms and waiting rooms.
• Share materials with pharmacies, faith-based organizations, and community groups.
• Consider establishing a toll-free number for patient education and information.
• Develop culturally-specific packets of information to be used when HIV is first diagnosed or for patients new to the clinic.
• Be selective and keep materials brief. Include materials with larger print. Think about how to meet the needs of clients who cannot read (for example, pictures or support persons). Use literacy assessment tools to ensure appropriate literacy level of materials.
• Select translators with care.
• Work with lay health workers and other health workers in the community to select and review materials. Also ask the consumer advisory board to review materials.

HIV Goal Contract with Illustrations

Readiness Assessment

My Shared Care Plan

Wellness Plan: Client Needs Assessment