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Conversation guidelines for talking about an HIV cure

 
Talking about an HIV cure can be quite challenging, for both healthcare professionals and people with HIV. Although there are hopeful signs in the search for a cure, these can also lead to questions and feelings of uncertainty.

News about breakthroughs in research may create expectations that are unrealistic at this point in time. By discussing them with your patient, you can put the information in the right context, manage the person’s expectations and give them support if they have questions and worries.
 
On this page, we give you a number of tips for talking to your patients about an HIV cure. 

How should I approach it?

 
The search for an HIV cure is complex and continually evolving, and there are many scientific terms involved. On this website, we provide clear explanations that you can use in conversations about an HIV cure. Take the time to go through the information available and adapt it to what your patients need. 

A healthcare professional is a vital link between scientific research and people with HIV. With your knowledge and guidance, you can help to create clarity and trust.
 

Stay updated

Make sure you are aware of the most recent developments in HIV cure research. Then you can answer your patients’ questions and respond to any myths and misunderstandings by giving the facts. On our ‘Research’ page, you’ll find information about HIV cure research. The ‘Timeline’ gives a complete picture of the progress made in research up until now.
 

Use reliable sources

It is important to use reliable sources and to refer your patients to these too.

If a patient has read, heard or seen something about an HIV cure, ask them where the information came from and discuss that source with them. This helps to identify information that is inaccurate and may need correcting. If you want to know more about how to recognise misinformation and ‘fake news’, visit the ‘Full Fact’ website.
 

Prepare for questions

People with HIV often have questions about an HIV cure, especially after news reports or because of their personal worries. On our ‘Questions and expectations’ page, you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions. This can help you prepare for anything your patient may ask.
 

Don’t create unrealistic expectations

near future. It is important to be clear about that with your patient. By explaining the current state of affairs in detail, you’ll help them to have realistic expectations. Our ‘Waiting for an HIV cure’ page gives information about how people with HIV can live their lives while they are ‘waiting for’ a cure.
 

Keep it simple

Talking to a patient about an HIV cure can be complicated because of the many medical and scientific terms involved. So try to avoid jargon and use plain language. You can also refer patients to this website, where we give easy-to-understand information about an HIV cure and HIV cure research. Look, for example, at our ‘Cure’ and ‘Research’ pages.

If a patient has specific questions about taking part in a clinical trial, or other aspects of HIV cure research, refer them to the ‘Taking part in a clinical trial’ page.
 

Meeting each individual patient’s needs

Not everyone with HIV is interested in – or ready for – a conversation about an HIV cure, so you’ll obviously not talk to all your patients about it. Some people are in no hurry to discuss the subject, while others think about it a lot and will very much want to have that conversation.