Alternative/complementary therapies used by persons with HIV disease

Area of Science:

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Persons with HIV disease often explore various treatment modalities.
• Understanding the use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) is crucial for holistic patient care.
• Previous research has not comprehensively detailed CAT usage patterns in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the types and frequency of alternative and complementary therapies used by individuals with HIV disease.
• To identify the most and least commonly utilized CAT among persons with HIV.
• To provide data that can inform healthcare providers and support patient-centered care.

Main Methods:

• A convenience sample of 145 persons with HIV disease was recruited from healthcare facilities in New York City and Boston.
• Participants completed the Alternative Therapies Check List, assessing knowledge and usage frequency of 55 CATs.
• Descriptive statistics, including frequency computations and ranking by mean usage, were employed.

Main Results:

• All 55 alternative and complementary therapies surveyed were used by at least one participant.
• Vitamins emerged as the most commonly used CAT among persons with HIV disease.
• Trigger therapies were identified as the least commonly used among the surveyed options.

Conclusions:

• A wide range of alternative and complementary therapies are utilized by persons with HIV disease.
• Vitamins represent a prevalent form of self-care or adjunctive therapy in this population.
• Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy and safety of commonly used CATs in HIV management.