Holzemer W, Nokes K, Sanzero Eller L, Corless I, Bunch E, Kemppainen J, Miramontes H, Chou FY; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThPeB5234.

W. Holzemer, University of California, School of Nursing, PO Box 0608, 531 Parnassus, San Francisco, CA 94943-0608, United States, Tel.: +1 415 476 27 63, Fax: +1 415 476 60 42, E-mail: bill.holzemer@nursing.ucsf.edu

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS experience diarrhea due to HIV disease, side effects of medication and treatment, and co-morbidities. This study describes the frequency and correlates of self-reported diarrhea and the self-care behaviors used to manage diarrhea. Method: Data were collected in a convenience sample (n = 422) of HIV+ persons for this multi-site, descriptive study in-person, by mail, or over the web (www.hivsymptoms.com). Demographic and disease-related variables were compared for those who did and did not report diarrhea. Results: Diarrhea was the second most frequently reported symptom (16.6%; n = 70); words used to describe it included: "uncontrollable, all the time, no control, urgent, can't leave the house, and accidents." There were no differences on age (M = 43 years-data for total sample), gender (22% female), ethnicity (46% people of color), level of education (35% less than high school), former IV drug user (30%), inadequate income (42%), inadequate insurance (29%), CD4+ (M = 409, SD = 267), and taking of antiretrovirals (75%) in those who did and did not report diarrhea. Categories of self-care behaviors (n = 96) for diarrhea included: Foods to Eat-29.0% (rice, yogurt); Over-the Counter Medications-27.0% (Imodium, Lomotil); Activities-15.6% (talk with friends, stay near bathroom); Food Supplements-13.5% (Metamucil, acidophilus); Foods to Avoid-9.4% (coffee, red wine); and Thoughts-5.2% (don't dwell on it, pray). 73% of these interventions were judged helpful. Participants reported 130 different sources of information for these self-care behaviors, including health care providers (38.5%), personal experiences (27.7%), informal networks (17.7%), and media 16.2%. Conclusions: Participants knew about self-care diarrhea management strategies and found these techniques, many learned from their health care providers, to be effective.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Comorbidity
• Data Collection
• Diarrhea
• Educational Status
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Patient Education as Topic
• Self Care
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0004211

UI: 102241708

From Meeting Abstracts