Patient reports of symptoms and their treatment at three palliative care projects servicing individuals with HIV/AIDS

Daniel Karus, Victoria H. Raveis, Carla Alexander, Barbara Hanna, Peter Selwyn, Katherine Marconi, Irene Higginson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Self-reports of 32 symptoms and their treatments were obtained from patients of three palliative care programs that provide services to seriously ill HIV patients (≥95% AIDS) in Alabama (n = 47), Baltimore (n = 91), and New York City (n = 117). On average, patients reported 10.9 (SD = 7.6) to 12.7 (SD = 6.2) symptoms. Pain, lack of energy, and worrying were reported by a majority of patients at all sites, often with a high level of associated distress. For only four symptoms (pain, nausea, difficulty swallowing, and mouth sores) did half or more of patients at all sites experiencing the symptom also report treatment. Less than a third of patients experiencing 12 symptoms (five of six comprising a psychological subscale) reported treatment. Results show that despite the availability of more efficacious treatments, many HIV/AIDS patients continue to experience significant physical and psychological symptomatology. Many of those experiencing symptoms, however, do not perceive their symptoms as being treated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)408-417
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume30
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2005

Keywords

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Palliative care
  • Symptom evaluation
  • Underserved populations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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