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Factors associated with complementary therapy use in people living with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral therapy
Betty L Chang1, Gwen van Servellen, Emilia Lombardi
1Primary Ambulatory Care, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA.
Objectives:
This study examined the extent to which people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) taking combination antiretroviral therapy used complementary therapy, and the relationship of their reported symptoms to the use of complementary therapy and health-related outcomes.
Design:
A descriptive design was used in which data were obtained from individual interviews and medical records.
Settings:
PLWHIV were identified through flyers distributed in five HIV clinics in urban and suburban locations in a Western state of the United States.
Subjects:
The sample consisted of 182 people living with HIV/AIDS, self-identified as white (24.12%), black (44%), and Hispanic (31.88%) with a mean age of 38 (range, 22-66) years. The majority (n = 160; 87.91%) was using as least one category of complementary therapy. Approximately 56% were experiencing symptoms from HIV or their treatment, and 51% discussed their complementary therapy therapies with their health care providers.
Outcome Measure:
Three categories of complementary therapy--physical/body-mind therapies, religion, herbs and supplements--and two health-related outcomes--CD4 count and viral load--were explored.
Results:
Complementary therapy use was associated with higher education, being Christian, white or black, and working part or full time. Significantly more PLWHIV with symptoms used physical/body-mind therapies than those without symptoms. No differences were found between users and nonusers of complementary therapy with respect to CD4 count and viral load. The use of herbs/supplements was significantly associated with the use of protease inhibitors. Among the categories of complementary therapy, religion, especially prayers, were most frequently used.
Conclusions:
A substantial proportion of PLWHIV reported using complementary therapy, most predominantly religion (specifically prayers). Further study is recommended to explore the PLWHIV's perceived benefits of using complementary therapy, and to examine the effect of complementary therapy on the patients' symptoms and disease progression. Health care providers need to be alert to potentials of interactions between combination antiretroviral therapies and specific complementary therapy in PLWHIV.
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