Body temperature alterations in hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients.
Because of the questions raised by the staff nurses regarding their observations of fever and alterations in body temperature in AIDS patients, a nursing research study was conducted to examine the incidence and degree of temperature elevation in hospitalized AIDS patients. Study findings suggest that temperature elevation and fever are common occurrences in hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients, although the fever may be self-limiting. An elevation in the white blood cell count was not seen, making fever in HIV/AIDS patients different than other medical/surgical patients. Phenomena noted by staff nurses in the clinical setting should be verified by nursing research because the data derived from nursing observation can be used in designing nursing interventions.
Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
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Jones
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Holloman
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Coffin
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors