Symptom management in Taiwanese patients with HIV/AIDS

The purpose of this study was to explore HIV/AIDS patients' symptom experiences and self-care symptom management strategies using a semi-structured questionnaire. Concurrently, the investigators gathered information about patients' symptom management strategies from healthcare providers. A total of 134 HIV-infected persons and 31 healthcare providers voluntarily participated in this study. Nausea, pain, anxiety, vomiting, diarrhea, fear and lack of appetite were described frequently by HIV-infected participants. Nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, fever, fear, pain and vomiting were observed frequently by healthcare providers. The management strategies used by these patients are presented and the differences in findings between Taiwan and Western cultures are discussed. In general, the results indicated that healthcare providers hold limited knowledge about self-care symptom management of HIV/AIDS. Filling this knowledge gap is an essential task for all healthcare providers in Taiwan.