title: [Use of alternative treatments by HIV-positive and AIDS patients in The Netherlands].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the use of alternative treatments by HIV-positive and AIDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the HIV association, the Dutch association of haemophilia patients, and people under treatment of a certain alternative healer.
  
  
  METHODS
  708 questionnaires were sent out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 206 respondents with HIV/AIDS 30.6% used alternative treatments. Of these 24% had already used alternative methods before the diagnosis, 27% started with alternative therapy after the HIV-positive diagnosis, and 13% did so when the number of CD4+ T-cells began to decrease. The treatments were mostly mega-vitamin treatment (51%), psychological techniques (46%) and homeopathy (40%). Half the patients using alternative therapies did so on instigation and with support of their family physician. Many patients (37%) felt better using alternative therapy and 34% were satisfied with it because it gave them the feeling they were actively increasing their own resistance capacity.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit, vakgroep Sociale Geneeskunde, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wolffers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Morée
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands; D009974:Orthomolecular Therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
vernacular_title: Gebruik van alternatieve behandelwijzen door HIV-positieven en AIDS-patiënten in Nederland.