Complementary therapy use in persons with HIV/AIDS.
The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used by people with HIV/AIDS to manage illness and treatment-related symptoms. Data were collected from a convenience sample (N = 422) of people living with HIV disease. Demographic variables (e.g., education, age, and gender) were compared for those who reported using at least one CAM therapy. There were significant differences for gender (chi2 = 4.003, df = 1, p = .045) and for ethnicity (chi2 = 6.042, df = 2, p = .049). Females and African Americans used CAM more frequently. More than one third of the participants used CAM, and there were a total of 246 critical incidents of nontraditional treatment use. It is possible that these nonallopathic interventions may positively affect health-related quality of life in persons with HIV by ameliorating or reducing the side effects associated with the disease and its treatments.
Kirksey
Kenn M
KM
California State University, Fresno, USA.
Goodroad
Brian K
BK
Kemppainen
Jeanne K
JK
Holzemer
William L
WL
Bunch
Eli Haugen
EH
Corless
Inge B
IB
Eller
Lucille Sanzero
LS
Nicholas
Patrice Kenneally
PK
Nokes
Kathleen
K
Bain
Catherine
C
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology