A nursing intervention to enhance the self-care capacity of nondisclosed persons living with HIV in Thailand.

Significant numbers of nondisclosed persons living with HIV (NPLWH) who are aware of their status do not enter care and must rely on their own abilities to maintain their health. This study shows how these individuals can be reached through nongovernmental organizations and assisted to improve their self-care capacity through an intensive nursing intervention. NPLWH in Chiang Mai, Thailand, were assessed using a 31-item self-care capacity questionnaire (range = 0-62) at baseline and monthly for 6 months. The nursing intervention used reflective questioning to assist PLWH to find ways to improve their self-care capacity. At baseline, the mean self-care capacity score was 31.4. After 3 months of intervention, the score increased to 54 and was maintained at this level for the next 3 months. This study demonstrates that nurses can reach out to NPLWH who are not in care and help to improve self-care capacity.