Complementary medicine use among people living with HIV/AIDS in Victoria, Australia: practices, attitudes and perceptions

Abstract

There is limited evidence suggesting the underlying reasons for the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) by people with HIV/AIDS, or individual attitudes and beliefs about the use of CAMs. Using focus groups and a survey with 151 individuals attending the HIV Clinics at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, we aimed to provide insights into factors that influence the use of CAMs among people living with HIV/AIDS. Roughly half (49%) of the participants had used CAMs to manage their HIV/AIDs. Users of CAMs utilized a wide range of treatments in managing their condition, but costs of the CAMs meant that users were not necessarily able to use them as much as they might have liked. Use of CAMs was based on a desire to find something beneficial rather than on being dissatisfied with conventional medicine. Further research is needed into (a) the effects of CAMs and (b) the enhancement of communication and collaboration between patients, doctors and complementary medicine practitioners.

A Global Perspective on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Era of Antiretroviral Treatment

“…Consistent with previously identified correlates of CAM use, recent studies provide additional support for higher rates of CAM use among HIV-positive individuals with more education [6,16,17], men who have sex with men (MSM) as compared to respondents of other sexual orientations [6,17], Caucasians as compared to minority respondents [18], and those who are employed or have higher incomes [16]. Consistent with our previous review, these findings suggest that CAM use (and presumably, access to CAM) is more common among individuals who [19,20].…”

“…Likewise, in Canada, Australia, and many European countries, CAM is a popular approach to dealing with HIV-related health concerns and coping with the challenges of living with HIV [5][6][7][8]. In developing countries, and particularly in low-income rural areas where the rates of HIV infection are extremely high, traditional, culture-based systems of health care are sometimes more acceptable or accessible than conventional HIV treatment for some with HIV.…”

A Review of the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and HIV: Issues for Patient Care

“…14,45,46 Thirty-five were carried out in North America, 16,64 five in Europe, [57][58][59][60][61] and two in Australia. 62,63 Three studies used national samples. 52,63,64 Prevalence figures for lifetime use of CAM varied from 30% to 90%; use over the past 6-12 months ranged from 15.4% to 100%.…”

“…Higher levels of education and being female were the most common predictors of CAM use (reported as significant in 13 16,20,[22][23][24]28,30,32,36,57,59,62,63 and seven 19,23,31,59,62,63,66 studies, respectively). Other determinants were Caucasian, 23,28 higher income, 20,35 gay/lesbian, 24,35 younger, 20,63 and having depression.…”

“…Other determinants were Caucasian, 23,28 higher income, 20,35 gay/lesbian, 24,35 younger, 20,63 and having depression. 25,35 HIV-specific predictors included longer disease duration/time on ART (5 studies 16,21,36,57,62 ), and using a higher number of medications (2), 19,60 more symptoms/infections (3), 25,36,57 and ART side effects (2). 16,59 CAM use was associated with having an HIV diagnosis; 43 and Carwein and Sabo 27 found that 100% of participants with HIV used CAM, compared to 16% before HIV diagnosis.…”