This paper describes the design and implementation, and presents qualitativ
e data on the Positive Self-Management Program (PSMP), a group health educa
tion programme to help patients actively participate ill their HIV/AIDS dis
ease and symptom management. PSMP design was guided by the needs and concer
ns of HIV patients and their caregivers, and by social cognitive theory. Pr
ogramme Participants meet weekly in interactive health education groups for
seven sessions, and complete a structured curriculum that teaches self-man
agement skills and information to patients: symptom assessment and manageme
nt, medication use, physical exercise, relaxation, doctor-patient communica
tion and nutrition. Each group was led by two trained peer-leaders (one HIV
-positive). Structured, open-ended telephone interviews were conducted with
a sample of PSMP participants during evaluation of the programme. Response
s to PSMP were favourable, emphasizing the importance of the contracting pr
ocess, group social support and the PSMP resource book provided. Subjects a
lso described variation in HIV knowledge and experience among group partici
pants, and emphasized the importance of changes in health-related attitudes
and behaviours as a result of PSMP education. These results suggest that a
self-management approach to HIV patient education is feasible aid accepted
, and could become a useful health education technique in patients with chr
onic HIV infection.