Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121521

Diana M. Fernández-Santos, MS, EdD(cand)¹, Maria A. Gomez, PhD², Miriam Velazquez, MS³, Doris V. Báez, MSc⁴, Eddy Rios, PhD, MPH², and Robert Hunter, MD¹. (1) Internal Medicine Department, Retrovirus Research Center, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Call Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, (787) 787-8722, dfernandez@uccaribe.edu, (2) Internal Medicine Department, Retrovirus Research Center, Universidad Central del Caribe, Call Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (3) Internal Medicine Department, Retrovirus Research Center, Universidad Central del Caribe, Call Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, (4) Internal Medicine Department, Retrovirus Research Center, Universidad Central del Caribe, Call Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032

Objectives. In this study we compared the psychosocial profile of patients with HIV/AIDS in their first encounter during pre-HAART era (1992-1994), implementation era (1995-1997) and after the implementation of HAART (1998-2003). Recognizing the intrinsic difference between hospitalized versus ambulatory patients, we assessed changes in trends according to the site of encounter. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study of 3,291 HIV/AIDS patients from the Retrovirus Research Center in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Initial descriptive analysis and a comparative analysis (Pearson Chi-Square and Chi-Square for linear trends) were performed. Results. Thirty seven percent of patients were seen in the hospital and 63.0% were ambulatory. A higher proportion of ambulatory patients reported nightmares, confusion, depression and suicide as compared with hospitalized patients in all time intervals. Higher proportions of hospitalized patients had lower formal education, were living without family, were intravenous drug users, reported economic problems, difficulty to sleep, alcohol use, tobacco use and had AIDS. A comparison of the time frames in the ambulatory sector showed significant increase (p<0.05) among proportions of patients that were women, were living without family, had higher formal education (> 9th grade), had not reported IDU and had AIDS. In the hospitalized scenario a significant increase (p<0.05) in lower formal education was seen. Conclusions. The psychosocial profile of HIV/AIDS patients in the hospitalized and ambulatory scenario has changed in the last 12 years. Health care facilities providing specialized attention to HIV/AIDS patients can improve their services having a psychosocial profile of patients.

Support: RCMI/NIH G12RR03035, 1U54RR01950701, U62/CCU206209

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the psychosocial profile of patients with HIV/AIDS in their first encounter during pre-HAART era (1992-1994), implementation era (1995-199
• and after the implementation of HAART (1998-2003). 2. Identify changes in the psychosocial profile of patients with HIV/AIDS in their first encounter during pre-HAART era (1992-1994), implementation era (1995-199
• and after the implementation of HAART (1998-2003). 3. Discuss the impact of the study results and conclusions in clinical endeavors and future studies.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.