Background
There is scientific consensus that people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who achieve an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV sexually (Undetectable = Untransmittable, U=U). Despite this scientific consensus, U=U knowledge gaps persist across the health workforce. Studies indicate slow uptake of U=U integration into clinical and public health practice, resulting in missed HIV prevention and treatment opportunities. Data show that U=U has been a contributing driver of retention and long-term engagement in HIV care, including ART adherence that leads to an undetectable viral load.
Program
Leveraging U=U to Achieve Long-Term HIV Treatment Success is an educational activity for primary care clinicians and is comprised of three modules. Two modules feature Rupa Patel, MD, MPH (Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA), and a third module includes testimonials from people living with HIV. The activity’s educational focus includes:
1. The science behind U=U messaging
2. The importance of U=U as a destigmatizing message
3. How to accurately and consistently communicate about U=U
Planning Committee
This educational activity was developed by a course director and an activity manager:
Course Director: Christopher Duncombe, MD, AM (University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA)
Content Reviewer: Bruce Richman, JD, EdM. (Prevention Access Campaign, New York, NY, USA)
Faculty: Rupa Patel, MD, MPH (Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA)
Activity Manager: Jonathon Hess, MPA, LLM (International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Washington, DC, USA)
Activity Assistant: Cassandra Moore, MPH (International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Washington, DC, USA)
Certification
Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of HIV care providers and other healthcare professionals providing HIV prevention, care, and treatment in specialized and primary care settings, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, learners will be able to:
1. Explain the science behind U=U messaging
2. Describe how U=U is destigmatizing message
3. Describe how to accurately and consistently communicate about U=U
Course Content
This activity’s three modules are covered in the course content link below, which should be fully reviewed prior to completing the knowledge assessment. If you encounter any issues, please contact Jonathon Hess, MPA, LLM, IAPAC Senior Director of Education, at jhess@iapac.org.
Knowledge Assessment
This activity has a knowledge assessment. The assessment requires completing 10 multiple choice questions covering topics covered in the activity’s three modules and must be completed following viewing of the activity’s three modules to claim a certificate of completion.
