401P
A DECADE OF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY USE AMONG PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS
J Gillett, R Cain, D Pawluch
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Objective: This research revisits a study conducted between 1992-1996 on approaches to complementary therapies by people with HIV/AIDS. We sought to better understand changes in the use of complementary therapies over time especially in relation to the development of new medical treatments.
Methods: Twelve respondents with diverse backgrounds were reinterviewed. Interviews were semi structured and lasted approximately 1–2 hours. Respondents were asked to reflect on their approach to health care, with a particular focus on the use of complementary therapies, in relation to changes in their lives (such as health status) and to broad changes in the epidemic (such as developments in HIV/AIDS medications).
Findings: Preliminary results from this study identify several key points regarding the way people with have used complementary therapies over the last decade. First, respondents had sustained their commitment to complementary approaches to health even while having made greater use of medications in managing their HIV infection. Second, respondents noted that their use of complementary therapies had become a normal part of their everyday routine. Third, respondents expressed that very little had changed over the past decade in removing barriers to accessing complementary therapies.
Conclusions: People with HIV/AIDS have continued to make use of a wide range of approaches to health despite the growing availability of medications and the perception that medications are an effective and sufficient means of treating HIV/AIDS. While the practice of using complementary therapies has continued, people with HIV/AIDS perceive that there have been few institutional changes made to help assist those interested in taking a broad approach to their health and health care.