The Relationships Among Social Capital, HIV Self-Management, and Substance Use in Women.
Allison R Webel, Carolyn Smith, Joseph Perazzo and 3 others
PMID 31007156WHAT IT FOUND
Higher social capital was linked to better HIV self-management and medication adherence.
Women described trust, community, and feeling valued as key; substance use still harmed daily self-management.
Key findings
01Higher social capital was associated with better HIV self-management and HIV medication adherence over time.
02Substance use negatively impacted daily HIV self-management (p = 0.01), and previous users reported better daily self-management than current users (53.4 vs. 45.3), but medication adherence did not differ.
03Qualitative interviews produced themes of trust, community, and value of self, with community sometimes supporting health and sometimes reinforcing substance use.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was a small pilot from a single site, so it cannot establish cause and effect. Participants were mostly older African American women living with HIV in Northeast Ohio, limiting generalizability. Many participants did not complete later assessments, so the three- and six-month data rest on fewer women. The authors noted the sample may have been underpowered to detect an effect of substance use on medication adherence. Qualitative rigor was limited by not using member checking.
Declared interests
The authors declared no relevant conflicts of interest. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that building social capital will improve HIV self-management. The study was a small pilot, and the relationships were observed over time, not tested as a nursing intervention.