People living with HIV may have better access to information about their disease than any other group of patients. No other disease area has as much award winning, published patient information to support those living with a disease.
Today the British Medical Association will recognise NAM, the HIV information charity, for the sixth time since 1999 in its Patient Information Award. It will award The Terrence Higgins Trust its fifth and sixth plaudits since it won its first in 1998.
Research suggests educated patients live longer, healthier lives. Two studies published this year suggested adherence to anti-HIV drugs is improved by continuing, and not short course, education. People with access to information are more likely to have better dialogues with their doctors and to understand and manage their treatment and care better.
The award was started in 1997 to recognise and to encourage accessible, good quality, accurate and evidence-based patient information.
HIV Therapy, one of NAM’s celebrated Information Series for Positive People booklets, was highly commended in the 2003 Patient Information Award.
The Terrence Higgins Trust’s Why should I test?, targeted at African people, won first prize in the BMA patient information award and its Getting the Most from your Family, Friends and Partner was commended. The latter is aimed at all people with HIV.