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Blood product use by hemophiliacs in relation to AIDS risk awareness and patient variables
S D Mayes1, H A Handford, D Szczucki
1Department of Psychiatry, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey.
Although some hemophiliacs in other studies have reported restricting blood product use because of fear of possible transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), no overall change in the quantity of blood products infused between January 1981 through December 1985 was found in a sample of 40 hemophiliacs before or after they became aware of the risk of contracting the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, there was a significant linear increase in blood product use with time during the period of AIDS risk awareness. This may be a nonspecific, chance finding; or it may reflect an increase in spontaneous bleeds secondary to AIDS-related stress. The implications of these findings are discussed, and specific areas for future research are recommended.
Although some hemophiliacs in other studies have reported restricting blood product use because of fear of possible transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), no overall change in the quantity of blood products infused between January 1981 through December 1985 was found in a sample of 40 hemophiliacs before or after they became aware of the risk of contracting the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, there was a significant linear increase in blood product use with time during the period of AIDS risk awareness. This may be a nonspecific, chance finding; or it may reflect an increase in spontaneous bleeds secondary to AIDS-related stress. The implications of these findings are discussed, and specific areas for future research are recommended.