HIV-related nurse's awareness of Complementary/Alternative Medicine

Well into the third decade of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic, positive living after infection is a major focus for public health practitioners. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has significantly reduced mortality rates associated with HIV infection in the United States. However, past research has indicated unpleasant side effects to HAART, leading many people living with HIV turn to Complementary or Alternative sources of Medical care (CAM) to alleviate HAART related symptoms. As length of time spent with a physician declines, nurses may play a critical role in a patient's choice of CAM use. Yet little published research has documented issues impacting the role of nurses in allopathic care settings linking people living with HIV to potential CAM care. The purpose of this research was to investigate a potential relationship between a nurse's professional experience and awareness of CAM as a treatment option. Data were collected from 283 nurses who provide care to people living with HIV. Chi-Square tests were conducted to determine the extent to which a relationship between the variables of interest existed. Results of univariate analyses demonstrated that the length of time a nurse had worked with clients living with HIV was not associated with a nurse's awareness of CAM. These results may be important in that they may indicate a need for nursing continuing education programs focused on benefits of CAM for people living with HIV. Additionally, they may indicate that further investigation is warranted to further elucidate factors related to HIV nurse referral behavior.