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E-Module

An HIV and Rehab Resource

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  • About
    • 1 – What is this resource about and who is it for?
    • 2 – Why was this resource created?
    • 3 – How can this resource be used?
    • 4 – Can this resource be used for teaching?
    • 5 – How was this resource developed?
    • 6 – Who contributed to developing this adapted resource?
    • 7 – Who funded the development of this resource?
    • 8 – Disclaimer
  • Section 1
    • 1.1 How is “rehabilitation” defined in this resource?
    • 1.2 How can rehabilitation help people living with HIV?
    • 1.3 How can the World Health Organization’s “ICF” help us think about rehabilitation for people living with HIV?
    • 1.4 How can the Episodic Disability Model help us think about rehabilitation for people living with HIV?
    • 1.5 Who provides rehabilitation for people living with HIV?
    • 1.6 Do rehabilitation providers need special skills or training to care for people living with HIV? If so, what?
    • 1.7 What roles do rehabilitation providers have related to HIV?
    • 1.8 When is rehabilitation clinical intervention useful along the HIV care continuum?
  • Section 2
    • 2.1 What do rehabilitation professionals need to know about the stages of HIV infection?
    • 2.2 What do rehabilitation providers need to know about CD4 count and viral load?
    • 2.3 What is the impact of HIV on body systems and why does this matter for rehabilitation providers?
    • 2.4 Who might rehabilitation providers treat?
    • 2.5 What do rehabilitation providers need to know about antiretroviral therapies?
  • Section 3
    • 3.1 What are the rehabilitation interventions that address impairments common among people living with HIV?
    • 3.2 What are the rehabilitation interventions that can address the activity limitations and participation restrictions common among people living with HIV?
    • 3.3 More information on the rehabilitation interventions available for people living with HIV
    • 3.4 – What do rehabilitation providers need to know about their patients’ beliefs and use of traditional healers, spiritual leaders and alternative therapies outside the formal medical system?
  • Section 4
    • 4.1: Intersectionality Theory in the Context of Rehabilitation
    • 4.2: Children and Youth
    • 4.3: HIV and Aging
    • 4.4: Substance Use
    • 4.5: Trauma
    • 4.6: Racialized Populations
    • 4.7: Indigenous Populations
    • 4.8: HIV, Sex and Gender
    • 4.9: HIV and COVID-19
    • 4.10: Is HIV itself a disability?
  • Section 5
    • 5.1 What are outcome measures?
    • 5.2 Why is it important to use outcome measures during rehabilitation with people living with HIV?
    • 5.3 How do rehabilitation providers know if an outcome measure will be useful in practice?
    • 5.4 What are floor and ceiling effects in outcome measurement?
    • 5.5 What is the difference between generic and HIV-specific outcome measures?
    • 5.6 How should you decide which outcome measures to use?
    • 5.7 How do you access a copy of an outcome measure?
    • 5.8 What are rehabilitation-related outcome measures that can be useful for people living with HIV?
  • Case Studies
    • Case #1 – Acute Care, Cardiorespiratory and Neurological
    • Case #2 – Musculoskeletal – Knee Pain
    • Case #3 – Aging, Cognition, Community, Stroke
    • Case #4 – Complex Case – Musculoskeletal, Episodic, Cardiorespiratory
    • Case #5 – Diabetes, Neuropathy, Substance Use
    • Case #6 – Transition from Paediatric to Adult Care
    • Supplemental Case Studies without Leading Questions
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Supplemental Case Studies without Leading Questions

Need more practice? Julie Phillips, HIV Advanced Practice Nurse at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, developed these supplemental cases.  Please help us! If you are interested to participate in the development of these cases, answer these questions and send your recommendations to us. Your content will be used to help further develop these cases, and you will be cited as a contributor on the final published version. Please forward your comments or content to Realize at realizecanada.org or info(at)realizecanada(dot)org.

  1. What are some of the (a) impairments, (b) activity limitations and (c) participation restrictions that this patient is currently experiencing?
    Notes: Consider the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and psychological challenges faced by the patient and classify according to the ICF.
  2. What added complexity does the patient’s concurrent health conditions have on his/her/their overall health?
  3. What personal and environmental factors might influence the patient’s recovery?
  4. What additional factors should be considered?
  5. What are some of the short-term and long-term rehabilitation goals for this patient?
    Notes: Consider patient values and preferences, and principles of shared decision-making, when discussing and developing goals. Use the SMART principle.
  6. What are some of the strategies that might be used to address the impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by this patient?
    Notes: Consider patient values and preferences as well as key medical issues when discussing treatment strategies. Consider using the process of shared decision-making to prioritize treatment choices /strategies, and provide rationale.
  7. What kind of educational health promotion, prevention, care, treatment and support materials or information might you provide for this patient?
  8. What other health or social services might this patient also benefit from having access to? Why?
  9. What issues might this patient need you to help him/her/them advocate for?

Case 1

Reynaldo

Reynaldo is a 48-year-old gentleman who was on vacation in the Philippines in August 2013 when he developed headaches, visual changes and fever. He was admitted to hospital in the Philippines and diagnosed as HIV positive (HIV+) with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Reynaldo remained in hospital in the Philippines for 28 days. He was discharged and returned to Toronto where he was admitted to hospital for further treatment. Between October 2013 and September 2014, he required 8 admissions to hospital – spending more time in hospital versus out of hospital for a number of sequelae from HIV or treatment complications including fever, renal failure, C. difficile colitis.

Past Medical History: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus; gout

Social History: Prior to August 2013, Reynaldo worked two jobs as a machine operator. He was economically independent and owned his own condominium. His ethnicity is Filipino; he came to Canada in 1993. He is one of 5 children; he has 2 older sisters, 1 younger sister and brother. His sexual orientation is MSM.

In early 2014, Reynaldo sold his condominium, as he was unable to live on his own due to his ongoing health issues. He is now on long-term disability and is unable to return to work at this time. Reynaldo currently lives with his 2 sisters. His family members prepare his meals, provide transportation and accompany him to all his appointments.

Current Medical History:

  • HIV+
  • Disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii
  • Polyarthritis
  • Gout
  • Hypertension
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Stage 3 Chronic Kidney diseases
  • Perinephric hematoma secondary to lithotripsy
  • Depression

Medications:

abacavir 600 mg OD
ethambutol 800 mg OD
ramipril 2.5 mg OD
3TC 300 mg OD
isoniazid  300 mg OD
rifabutin 150 mg OD
darunavir 800 mg OD
prednisone 15 mg OD
pantoprazole 40 mg OD
ritonavir 100 mg OD
fluconazole 200 mg OD
hydroxyzine 50 mg po OD
amlodipine 5 mg po OD
mirtazapine 30 mg qhs
febuxostat 80 mg OD
insulin aspart 9 u s/c ac meals
insulin glargine 27 u s/c

Issues:

  • Re-creating independence from family.
  • Cannot go back to previous work – query return to school or retraining.
  • Transitioning from the sick role.

Case 2

Christopher

Christopher is a 55-year-old gentleman who was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1997. He has been on antiretroviral therapy since time of diagnosis. CD4 counts >400/mm3 and viral load results have been below the level of detection. Earlier this year he was admitted to hospital with fever and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with sepsis secondary to sigmoid perforation requiring total colectomy and several weeks in the ICU. He was discharged to a rehabilitation facility but was readmitted after 3 days with bleeding from his stoma. Investigations revealed cirrhosis of the liver and emphysema.

Past Medical History:

  • HIV+ – 1997
  • Pulmonary tuberculosis – 1997
  • Kaposi sarcoma – 1997
  • Recurrent anal abscess

Social History: Single. Currently lives alone and his housing is connected to his job as a building manager. Estranged from his brother (until this hospitalization). Parents are deceased. Friends described as his family but they do not live in Ontario. Ethnicity – Caucasian/English. Sexual Orientation – MSM. Christopher reports 4-5 drinks/night and 30 years of smoking one pack to a pack and a half of cigarettes/day.

Current Medical History:

  • HIV+
  • Cirrhosis of the liver
  • Emphysema
  • Total colectomy

Medications:

Atripla 1 tablet OD
spironolactone 25 mg OD
furosemide 40 mg OD
ipratropium bromide 20 mcg/puff ii puffs q6h
Gaviscon oral suspension OD – bid
pantoprazole 40 mg OD
Proferrin 1 tablet OD

Issues:

  • Decreased mobility and strength.
  • Previous to hospitalization he was independent with ADL but is now dependent.
  • Unable to return to work at this time as building superintendent and therefore housing issues.
  • New diagnosis of cirrhosis – recommended changes in lifestyle especially alcohol intake.
  • New diagnosis of emphysema – dealing with smoking cessation.
  • Mood changes secondary to body image – total colectomy.

Case 3

Bill

Bill is a 59-year-old gentleman diagnosed as HIV positive in 2000. He experienced a myocardial infarction (MI) earlier this year but received no intervention other than Plavix and beta-blocker as the clot was over 48 hours. Bradyarrhythmia was asymptomatic and in normal sinus rhythm. Bill will require routine follow-up and if he becomes symptomatic then surgical intervention will be required. Bill’s driver’s licence was suspended because of the MI and he is to be reassessed.

Past Medical History:

  • HIV+ – 2000
  • Burkitt’s Lymphoma – 2004
  • Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease – secondary to chemotherapy
  • Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis – 2002
  • Anal fistula
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Peripheral neuropathy secondary to chemotherapy
  • Major depression in 2010 secondary to employment, financial and social stressors

Social History: Bill lives alone and has frequent job changes. His family lives in Montreal. He has no identifiable friendships/social network. Ethnicity – Caucasian/English. Sexual Orientation – MSM. Bill experiences ongoing financial stresses.

Current Medical History:

  • HIV+
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease
  • MI
  • Obesity – BMI 37

Medications:

Kivexa 1 tablet OD
Kaletra 2 tablets bid
Pantoprazole 40 mg OD
Plavix 75 mg OD
Crestor 10 mg OD
metoprolol 12. 5 mg bid
NTG spray PRN

Issues:

  • Obesity – weight loss as treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Sedentary lifestyle – worsening of CAD.
  • Current employment in jeopardy because of CAD.
  • Increased risk for mood alterations because of MI and lifestyle changes required.
  • Minimal social support.

Case 4

Gail

Gail is a 54-year-old woman diagnosed HIV positive in 2013 after her husband tested HIV positive. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2012. Initial absolute CD4 count 10/mm3 and viral load viral load 295,000 copies/mL. One year later, her absolute CD4 count is 294/mm3 and viral load below the level of detection. Her non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is in remission. She does not feel physically able to return to work and has ongoing financial stress.

Past Medical History:

  • HIV+
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Anxiety

Social History: Gail has been married for 30 years. Her husband was diagnosed as HIV positive 2012. Her parents are deceased and she has 2 sisters. Gail worked as a collection officer until she went on long-term disability with the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ethnicity – Caucasian/English. Sexual Orientation – WSM

Current Medical History:

  • HIV+ 2013
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Anxiety
  • Stage 2 Chronic kidney disease secondary to long-term use of meloxicam
  • Abnormal Pap tests
  • Shingles

Medications:

Truvada 1 tablet OD
raltegravir 400 mg bid
Meloxicam 15 mg OD
lorazepam 1.5 qhs
Elavil 150 mg qhs
Synthroid .125 mg OD
Cycloprine 10 mg OD
Oxycocet PRN

Issues:

  • Impaired ability to carry out ADL secondary to pain associated with osteoarthritis.
  • Decreased energy levels.
  • Persistent anxiety regarding finances and long-term disability.
  • Social isolation – only she and her husband.

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