Prevalence, self-care behaviors, and self-care activities for peripheral neuropathy symptoms of HIV/AIDS.
As part of a larger randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of an HIV/AIDS symptom management manual (n = 775), this study examined the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in HIV-infected individuals at 12 sites in the USA, Puerto Rico, and Africa. Neuropathy was reported by 44% of the sample; however, only 29.4% reported initiating self-care behaviors to address the neuropathy symptoms. Antiretroviral therapy was found to increase the frequency of neuropathy symptoms, with an increased mean intensity of 28%. A principal axis factor analysis with Promax rotation was used to assess the relationships in the frequency of use of the 18 self-care activities for neuropathy, revealing three distinct factors: (i) an interactive self-care factor; (ii) a complementary medicine factor; and (iii) a third factor consisting of the negative health items of smoking, alcohol, and street drugs. The study's results suggest that peripheral neuropathy is a common symptom and the presence of neuropathy is associated with self-care behaviors to ameliorate HIV symptoms. The implications for nursing practice include the assessment and evaluation of nursing interventions related to management strategies for neuropathy.
Nicholas
Patrice K
PK
Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital and MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA 02120, USA. pnicholas@partners.org
Voss
Joachim
J
Wantland
Dean
D
Lindgren
Teri
T
Huang
Emily
E
Holzemer
William L
WL
Cuca
Yvette
Y
Moezzi
Shahnaz
S
Portillo
Carmen
C
Willard
Suzanne
S
Arudo
John
J
Kirksey
Kenn
K
Corless
Inge B
IB
Rosa
María E
ME
Robinson
Linda
L
Hamilton
Mary J
MJ
Sefcik
Elizabeth
E
Human
Sarie
S
Rivero-Mendez
Marta
M
Maryland
Mary
M
Nokes
Kathleen M
KM
Eller
Lucille
L
Kemppainen
Jeanne
J
Dawson-Rose
Carol
C
Brion
John M
JM
Bunch
Elli H
EH
Shannon
Maureen
M
Nicholas
Thomas P
TP
Viamonte-Ros
Ana
A
Bain
Catherine A
CA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012648:Self Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics