title: Complementary medicine use by people living with HIV in Australia - a national survey.
abstract: Little is known about the use of complementary medicines by people living with HIV in Australia since the advent of more effective combination antiretroviral therapy. We conducted an anonymous survey of 1211 adult patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy from one of eight specialist HIV clinics across Australia, aiming to identify the current patterns of use of ingestible complementary medicines. Data collected included reasons for use, information sources and rates of disclosure of use of complementary medicines to medical practitioners and pharmacists. Ingestible complementary medicine was used by up to 53% of the 1037 patients returning a survey. Complementary medicine was commonly used for general health, to boost immune function and, to a lesser extent, to address co-morbidities. Disclosure of complementary medicines use to doctors was far higher than to pharmacists. Given the potential for interactions, pharmacists should be more aware of patients' complementary medicines use.
authors: Pharmacy Department, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Monash/Alfred Psychiatric Research Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Lesley A
authors: LA
authors: Braun
authors: Pharmacy Department, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Pharmacy Department, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Catherine A
authors: CA
authors: Forrester
authors: Pharmacy Department, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors: Matthew Dm
authors: MD
authors: Rawlins
authors: Pharmacy Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Russell W
authors: RW
authors: Levy
authors: Pharmacy Department, Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Penm
authors: Pharmacy Department, The Albion Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Marissa M
authors: MM
authors: Graham
authors: Pharmacy Department, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Kathryn F
authors: KF
authors: Mackie
authors: Pharmacy Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Sohileh
authors: S
authors: Aran
authors: Pharmacy Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Bridle
authors: Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Bailey
authors: Pharmacy Department, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia a.duncan@alfred.org.au.
authors: Alison J
authors: AJ
authors: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001315:Australia; D001364:Awareness; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists; D010820:Physicians; D015995:Prevalence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; Australia; HAART; HIV; antiretroviral therapy; antiviral; complementary medicines; drug-drug interaction; treatment