Reasons for complementary therapies and characteristics of users among HIV-infected people

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 14; no. 7; pp. 482 - 486
• Main Authors: Agnoletto, Vittorio, Chiaffarino, Francesca, Nasta, Paola, Rossi, Roberto, Parazzini, Fabio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.2003; Royal Society of Medicine Press; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Complementary Therapies - methods; Complementary Therapies - utilization; Educational Status; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases - chemically induced; Gastrointestinal Diseases - prevention & control; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - therapy; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; Nervous System Diseases - prevention & control; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - prevention & control; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Europe; HIV INFECTED SUBJECT; COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPY; Infection; Human; Immunopathology; Treatment; Viral disease; Alternative medicine; Characteristic; HIV infected subject; complementary and alternative therapy; AIDS; Immune deficiency
• ISSN: 0956-4624; 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1258/095646203322025803

The aim of this study was to analyse in a large sample of HIV-infected subjects the expectations toward complementary therapies (CT) and the characteristics of users. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed in seven European countries among HIV-infected subjects consecutively attending the offices of AIDS organizations. Among 632 ever CT users, nutritional supplements (124 subjects) and psycho-physiological approaches (116 subjects) were the most frequent CT used: 61.4% used CT to improve energy. Half the CT users wanted to prevent or alleviate the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) side effects. General malaise and neuropathy were the most common HAART side effects, where CT users found improvement (62.0% and 54.7%, respectively). Acupuncture improved neuropathy in a high proportion of subjects (87.5%); whereas for others CT were considered less effective (range 20.0–36.4%). The most common expectations from CT were to improve energy and to prevent or alleviate the HAART side effects. This suggests that HIV-infected people expect not so much specific help as general support from CT.