The experience of pain in persons with HIV/AIDS

A phenomenological design was used to elicit data about the experience of pain caused by HIV from 21 men and 1 women who attended ambulatory clinics. Data were generated through open-ended interviews. The phenomenon of pain appeared to be interpreted by the participants in a broad manner. The four themes that emerged from the data were physical pain, painful losses, the pain of not knowing, and social pain. In addition, coping strategies used to deal with pain are identified in this study. This study offers nurses a view into the phenomenon of pain in people with HIV that goes well beyond physical pain and associated-pain syndromes.