Improved health and self-esteem among patients with AIDS in a therapeutic community nursing program

This study followed up 41 clients (26 males and 15 females) admitted into a modified therapeutic community (TC) nursing home for substance abusing clients with AIDS at 3 points in time (admission, 8 months into treatment, and after completing residential treatment, 16-18 months post baseline) using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and other biological and social indicators, such as CD-4 cell count, body weight, and number of close friends. Analyses of repeated measures found significant linear increases on total self-esteem, CD-4 cell count, and body weight biological indicators, and number of close friends social indicator. Discussion focused on the pertinence of the TC nursing home treatment on clients' internalized behavior self-concept change, as well as positive physical and social change indicators.