Corless I, Bunch EH, Kemppainen J, Holzemer W, Nokes K, Sanzero Eller L, Portillo C, Butensky E, Nicholas P; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThPeB5235.
I. Corless, MGH Institute of Health Professions, 101 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States, Tel.: +1 617 726 80 18, Fax: +1 617 726 80 22, E-mail: icorless@partners.org
Background: People living with HIV/AIDS experience fatigue and weakness due to HIV disease,side effects of medication and treatment,and co-morbidities. This study describes the frquency and correlates(demographic and disease-related factors) of self-reported weakness and fatigue and the self-care behaviors used to manage these symptoms in a convenience sample (n = 422) of HIV+ persons. Method: Data were collected for this multisite descriptive study in person,by mail,or over the Web. Demographic and disease-related factors were compared for those who did and did not report fatigue and weakness. Results: 7.3% of the sample reported fatigue and weakness as symptoms they frequently experience. There were no differences on age, gender, ethnicity, level of education, drug use, adequacy of income and insurance, CD4 count, and use of anti-retroviral medication. Words used when describing fatigue and weakness included: "exhaustion,tiredness,weakness and loss of energy". Reported self-care strategies (n = 79) for fatigue and weakness grouped by frequency of use were:rest and sleep (27%), exercise (17%), vitamins/supplements (8%), and avoiding stress and strenuous activitiy (5%). 84% of self-care behaviors were considered helpful to some degree. Sources of information included: self (48%), media (21%), friends/family (18%), and MDs (8%). Conclusions: Fatigue continues to be a problem for people with HIV/AIDS. Strategies utilized by this sample were helpful to some degree. Interestingly, the most often cited were self-designed or obtained from the media, followed by the use of informal and formal networks as resources. It seems likely that a nonspecific symptom such as fatigue is under-reported and under-treated.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Asthenia
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- Educational Status
- Exercise
- Fatigue
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Paresis
- Self Care
Other ID:
UI: 102241709
From Meeting Abstracts