title: Patient reports of symptoms and their treatment at three palliative care projects servicing individuals with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: Self-reports of 32 symptoms and their treatments were obtained from patients of three palliative care programs that provide services to seriously ill HIV patients (>or=95% AIDS) in Alabama (n=47), Baltimore (n=91), and New York City (n=117). On average, patients reported 10.9 (SD=7.6) to 12.7 (SD=6.2) symptoms. Pain, lack of energy, and worrying were reported by a majority of patients at all sites, often with a high level of associated distress. For only four symptoms (pain, nausea, difficulty swallowing, and mouth sores) did half or more of patients at all sites experiencing the symptom also report treatment. Less than a third of patients experiencing 12 symptoms (five of six comprising a psychological subscale) reported treatment. Results show that despite the availability of more efficacious treatments, many HIV/AIDS patients continue to experience significant physical and psychological symptomatology. Many of those experiencing symptoms, however, do not perceive their symptoms as being treated.
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karus
authors.forename: Victoria H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Raveis
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selwyn
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Higginson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama; D015142:Baltimore; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010166:Palliative Care