Experiences of patients with HIV/AIDS receiving mid- and long-term care in Japan: A qualitative study.
Yoko Imazu, Nao Matsuyama, Sanae Takebayashi and 2 others
PMID 31406727WHAT IT FOUND
HIV patients in Japan described stigma, shock and secrecy, but continued long-term treatment when they felt well and received professional support.
Nurses can help by protecting privacy, explaining therapy, and linking patients to peer support.
Key findings
01Some participants accepted their diagnosis, while others did not, and this difference affected attitudes toward therapy.
02Stigma led some participants to hide their HIV-positive status and take medication privately.
03All participants continued mid- and long-term treatment because they felt well and received professional support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Single-site study at a central hub hospital in Greater Tokyo, so professional support may differ from other hospitals. Over 90% of participants were men, so women's experiences are limited. Participants had been receiving treatment for at least 1 year and were clinically stable, so newly diagnosed or unstable patients were not included. Qualitative interviews describe experiences and cannot show that support improves treatment continuation or outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors reported no real or perceived vested interests related to the article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that professional support caused better treatment continuation. It reports patients' experiences, and all participants were already continuing therapy.