Why should I be involved in my own care?

You are your own best champion when it comes to your health.  You know your condition(s), your background, and your needs better than anyone else.  Decisions about your care affect you more than anyone else.  It is only natural to want to take an active part in your own care to ensure you receive the best possible services. The more involved you can be in your care, the better. If you find it difficult to get involved on your own, you can ask a family member, partner, or friend to help you. In some regions, there are also peers, health advocates, or health navigators to help you get more involved in your care (ask your local AIDS service organization or your doctor about these services).

How do I get involved in my own care?

Get active in your own care by learning and speaking up. 

Learn!

  • Learn about your conditions – HIV, and any other health conditions you might be facing.
  • You can learn about your conditions by:
    • Talking with healthcare professionals.
    • Talking with staff at AIDS service organizations.
    • Talking with staff at condition-specific organizations (e.g. If you are facing depression, you can contact people at the Canadian Mental Health Association).
    • Attending talks and workshops at health organizations (e.g. “lunch and learns” at places like municipal public health departments) and AIDS service organizations.
    • Reading pamphlets and handouts from clinics and AIDS service organizations.
    • Looking online at reputable websites, such as CATIE (www.catie.ca) and CWGHR (www.hivandrehab.ca).
    • Talking with HIV+ people that you trust.
  • Stay up to date with health information.  Health information is always changing as new research happens and practice evolves.  Make sure you are paying attention to these changes. Revisit your information sources often to find out what is new. 

Speak up!

  • If you do not understand something a healthcare professional is telling you, ask them to explain it again, or in a different way. Ask them for references or websites you can check out for yourself.
  • If you have questions about what a healthcare professional is doing, ask them.
  • If you have questions about your condition or treatment, ask your healthcare provider.
  • The Internet is a great place for suggestions on how to speak up for yourself.  For example, Riverside Health Care1  provides a list of good questions to ask healthcare professionals:
    • Could you please explain that to me?
    • Can I come back with my family, partner, or friend to talk about this again?
    • How sure are you that I have this condition?

1Riverside Health Care. Be involved in your health care. Accessed Jan 15, 2015 from http://www.riversidehealthcare.ca/patient-safety/be-involved-in-your-health-care