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Esta página no está disponible en español. UPR; HIV Status Disclosure Improves Therapy Adherence In Adolescents… Physically Active HIV-Infected Persons Have Higher Life Satisfaction
University Of Puerto Rico, San Juan; HIV Status Disclosure Improves Therapy Adherence In Adolescents September 1, 2004 2004 SEP 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HIV status disclosure improves therapy adherence in adolescents. "The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly encourages the disclosure of HIV status to school-age children and further recommends that adolescents know their HIV status. Limited information exists on the impact of disclosure. "We designed and implemented a disclosure model hypothesized to be associated with healthy psychological adjustment and improved medication adherence," researchers in the United States report. "We report the model's design and implementation and results of a quasi-experimental study of the disclosure's effects on health care professionals (n=16), caregivers (n=39), and HIV-infected youth (n=40) in Puerto Rico. Information was collected from youth, caregivers, and professionals by semistructured interviews and questionnaires," wrote I. Blasini and coworkers. "Most youth (70%) had feelings of normalcy 6 months post-disclosure," reported investigators, "and most also improved their adherence to therapy after disclosure as reported by both patients (58%) and caregivers (59%). Eighty-five percent of youth and 97% of caregivers considered disclosure a positive event for themselves and their families." "Fewer health care professionals reported feelings of fear, discomfort, and insecurity after protocol participation," the authors concluded. Blasini and colleagues published their study in Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Disclosure model for pediatric patients living with HIV in Puerto Rico: Design, implementation, and evaluation. J Develop Behav Pediatr, 2004;25(3):181-189). For additional information, contact I. Blasini, University of Puerto Rico, Children's Hospital Pediatrics ACTU, Med Science Campus, POB 365067, San Juan, PR 00936 USA. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621 USA. The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of HIV/AIDS, Pediatrics, Drug Adherance, and Mental Health. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. University Of Puerto Rico, San Juan; Physically Active HIV-Infected Persons Have Higher Life Satisfaction 24 November 2004 2004 NOV 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Physically active HIV-infected persons have higher life satisfaction. According to scientists writing in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, "Hispanics represent 13% of the U.S. population but account for 19% of the new AIDS cases reported in 2000. "The antiretroviral drug therapy used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS may cause lipodystrophy and insulin resistance, among other effects. Physical and leisure activities reduce these effects and improve the emotional and physical well-being of HIV-positive persons." "This study describes physical and leisure activities, life satisfaction, depression, and body composition of HIV-positive Hispanics in Puerto Rico and compares body composition, CD4 counts, depression, leisure time, and life satisfaction of participants classified as physically active or inactive. "Sixty-eight individuals were evaluated using questionnaires and biophysical measurements. Descriptive statistics and independent t tests were used for data analysis," said F.A. Ramirez-Marrero and coworkers. "Physically active participants had higher life satisfaction scores and healthier body composition as compared to those physically inactive," reported investigators. "Health professionals must encourage the promotion of a physically active lifestyle among HIV-positive Hispanics," the authors concluded. Ramirez-Marrero and colleagues published their study in Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (Physical and leisure activity, body composition, and life satisfaction in HIV-positive Hispanics in Puerto Rico. J Assoc Nurses Aids Care, 2004;15(4):68-77). Additional information can be obtained by contacting F.A. Ramirez-Marrero, University Puerto Rico, Center HIV AIDS Education and Research, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR, USA. The publisher of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care can be contacted at: Sage Publications Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA. The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of HIV/AIDS, Physical Fitness, Life Satisfaction, and Antiretroviral Therapy. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports.
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