title: HIV disclosure among HIV positive individuals: a concept analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of HIV disclosure.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is a growing interest among healthcare providers and researchers in HIV disclosure as an effective HIV prevention and early disease management initiative. However, the concept still remains unclear. Conceptual clarity is important for providing an expanded theoretical definition and understanding of attributes of HIV disclosure. This information is useful in constructing better HIV disclosure measures in HIV/AIDS nursing practice and research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer search of the following databases was conducted to capture the meaning and processes of HIV disclosure among HIV-positive individuals: PubMed, CINAHL and PSYCINFO. Only English language journals were used. Publication dates of the literature review ranged from 1999 to 2009. The following key words were used: HIV disclosure, self-disclosure, disclosure and serostatus disclosure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Walker and Avant (2005) concept analysis model (Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing, Pearson Prentice Hall, River, NJ, 2005) was used to guide the analysis process, which was completed in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concept analysis revealed that HIV disclosure is a complex process characterized by the following attributes: experiencing an event, communicating something, timing, and contextual environment, protecting someone, relationship status and improving something or being therapeutic. In addition, the process of HIV disclosure varies across time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed HIV disclosure attributes provide nursing scholars and researchers with new directions on how to reframe research questions, develop measurement tools to reflect better the diversity and fluidity of the process of HIV disclosure among HIV-positive individuals. Policy implications include the need to develop approaches that protect individual and public rights.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA. rosemary.eustace@wright.edu
authors.forename: Rosemary W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Eustace
authors.forename: Perla R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ilagan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors