During the past decade, consumer involvement in individual care decisions has gained increasing interest from people living with HIV, as well as HIV health care providers. The changing face of HIV disease — from acute to chronic — and the increasing complexity of HIV care and service needs are among the causes of this shift.

Involving consumers in health care leads to improvements in health outcomes by:

• Encouraging participation in decision making in individual care
• Creating empowerment to play an active role in managing their own health
• Offering cooperation to navigate and access effective health services

Formula:  The number of patients/clients with at least two HIV case management visits in the past 12 months who have co-signed their service care plans in the past 6 months. Divide by the total number of patients/clients with at least two HIV case management visits in the past 12 months. Multiply by 100 to calculate percent.

Increase the percent of patients/clients who have co-signed their service care plans in the past 6 months to above 90 percent.

Assess a random number of patient/client records monthly (or at the frequency established by your quality improvement effort). Each month, identify your sample (patients/clients with at least two case management visits in the past 12 months). From this sample, count the number of clients who have co-signed their service care plans in the past 6 months. Divide by the total number of patients/clients with at least two case management visits in the past 12 months.  Multiply by 100 to calculate percent.

The National HIVQUAL Project’s Minimum Sample Table will help you determine how many records to include in your sample. The Research Randomizer can generate a random number series to help you select which records to review.