Selected AIDS beliefs, behaviors and informational needs of homosexual/bisexual men with AIDS or ARC.
Due to the current absence of curative therapies, patients with AIDS or ARC (AIDS-Related Complex) rely on information to provide them with a sense of control over their lives [Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Confronting AIDS: Directions for Public Health, Health Care and Research (1986)]. The purpose of this study was to describe AIDS beliefs, behaviors and informational needs of patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex 7 years into the epidemic. Data were collected once using a modified version of the AIDS Beliefs and Behaviors Questionnaire (ABBQ) developed by McKusick et al. [Am. J. Public Hlth. 75, 493-496 (1985)] and Moran et al. [Oncol. Nurs. Forum (1988)]. Study results showed that 90% of outpatients (N = 30) at an internationally recognized AIDS medical center wanted more information about building their immune systems. Surprisingly few patients (10%) wanted explicit information about safe sexual behaviors, although 4 years into the epidemic, this information was a central concern [Moran, Unpublished Masters thesis (1986)]. Results suggests that nurses need to take a more active role in monitoring and addressing patients' changing informational needs.
Lovejoy
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Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco.
Moran
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D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012803:Sick Role