title: STD Clinic Patients' Awareness of Non-AIDS Complications of HIV Infection.
abstract: Participants were recruited from a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Florida and were assessed regarding the knowledge and awareness of non-AIDS conditions associated with HIV infection. Questionnaires were administered before and after a brief information session on non-AIDS conditions associated with HIV infection. Participants included men (n = 46) and women (n = 51). Prior to the information session, at baseline, only 34% of the participants were worried about HIV infection. Most participants (82%) agreed that HIV could be treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), while only 38% were aware that HIV-associated conditions cannot be easily treated with ART. After the information session, almost all participants reported they were concerned regarding the risk of HIV infection. High-risk patients may have limited knowledge about the consequences of HIV infection beyond the traditional AIDS-associated conditions. Increased awareness of these less known consequences of HIV infection may decrease the potential for complacency regarding acquiring HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA jcastro2@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: José Guillermo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Granovsky
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; HIV; non-AIDS defining