Developing therapeutic relationships with people living with HIV: exploring the nurse–patient relationship

Abstract

Background: The care paradigm for HIV has changed from one of an infectious, life-limiting disease to that of a chronic manageable condition. This shift poses challenges for practitioners working in this area when providing care that is both person centred and reflective of the demands placed on an evolving disease area. Objectives: The overall aim of this study was to explore how therapeutic relationships are developed and their subsequent use within person-centred care. Design: An interpretative phenomenological analysis research design was used to collect data from 10 purposively recruited HIV specialist nurses in the north-west region of the UK. In-depth, semistructured interviews were used to collect the data. Results: Data analysis revealed three themes that captured person-centredness in HIV care. These were: ways of being; the nurse-patient relationship; and the influence of stigma. Conclusion: The research illuminates key features that are important when developing therapeutic relationships and offers a framework to explain how these features were also key elements of person-centred care.