title: HIV symptoms.
abstract: People with HIV/AIDS are a vulnerable group whose symptoms can seriously affect their quality of life. HIV/AIDS symptoms can result from the disease itself, from secondary complications of the disease, or from side-effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and other medications related to comorbidities. HIV symptoms are the single most important indicators for patients and practitioners. Symptoms prompt patients to seek medical attention and provide health care providers with essential clues about changes in health status and quality of life. Despite increased recognition of the importance of addressing symptoms among people with HIV/AIDS, few studies have examined the management of HIV symptoms. This chapter introduces HIV symptoms, reports on the methods of review, provides an overview of contextual issues including the literature on symptoms, issues related to symptom measures, theoretical foundations on symptom management, HIV-specific measures, non-HIV-specific measures, translation of findings into practice, and implications for future research and policy.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Holzemer
authors.forename: Fang-Yu
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D019468:Disease Management; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006291:Health Policy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data