[Enfuvirtide in HIV patients: a nursing guideline for medication management]

Fusion inhibitors can be an effective salvage therapy in HIV-patients with multiple resistances. However, the management and maintenance of the therapy, which requires percutaneous self-administration, can be a difficult task for patients. Preparation and administration are time-consuming and may force patients to alter their daily routine. Therefore, appropriate counselling and training is important. Evidence-based guidelines can help health care professionals to provide continuing high quality care. The department of Clinical Nursing Science at the University Hospital Basel have developed a nursing guideline, which formulates patient-management from decision-making up to the support needed in long-time treatment maintenance. The main focus of this article lies on the theoretical framework of this guideline and a description of its key elements. These are important aspects of managing the treatment of chronic illness in general. Therefore, this article addresses all health care providers supporting chronically ill patients in their medication management.