Families Suffering With HIV/AIDS: What Family Nursing Interventions Are Useful to Promote Healing?

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical research project was to examine the usefulness of a family nursing intervention program offered to families experiencing illness suffering related to HIV/AIDS. The interventions were based on the Family Caregiving Model and the Illness Beliefs Model. Sixteen Thai families with one or more family members living with HIV/AIDS were offered three to four family clinical sessions by an advanced practice family nurse. The audiotaped family clinical sessions and field notes were analyzed using thematic analysis. The outcomes reported by families included a competence to manage illness care of family members experiencing HIV/AIDS, new meaning and purpose, improved family interaction, embraced facilitating beliefs and changed constraining beliefs, and a recognition of the family's strengths.

Family Health Conversations: How Do They Support Health?

“…Consequently, no individual is to blame for a problem experienced within the family [18]. One qualitative study including 16 families living with HIV/AIDS showed that one response to family nursing systems interventions is an increased understanding of family dynamics which opens up for change and contributes to the families' health experiences and individual well-being [21]. …”

“…This may embrace change or modification of constraining beliefs and strengthening of facilitating beliefs, of finding alternative ways of talking about the family situation and the discovery of new meanings [15, 16]. A small but growing body of qualitatively designed outcome studies focusing on families' experiences points at these interventions to be a healing experience [17], improving family relationships [18, 19], alleviating experiences of suffering [20, 21], and psychologically empowering [22, 23]. …”

Efficacy of an Intervention for Families Living with HIV in Thailand: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Broadly speaking, there has been little empirical research addressing the adaptation of evidence-based interventions to ensure their fit for specific cultures and communities [16]. Family relationships are important and family is a valuable resource of support and care for ill family members [17], especially in Thai culture [18]. Previous studies have identified challenges associated with cultural adaptations of interventions based on Western-based behavioral theories to non-Western contexts, where the former focuses more on individual agency, whereas the latter emphasizes collectivistic notions [19–21].…”

Mari Helena Salminen-Tuomaala, Päivi Leikkola, Riitta Mikkola, Eija Paavilainen

“…Earlier studies have primarily focused on family counselling interventions for chronic illness [11][12][13][14]. Three general goals that familyfocused interventions have been found to involve are: helping families cope with the challenges of chronic illness management, mobilizing family support and reducing intrafamilial suffering [15].…”

“…This study is a part of larger project on the quality and safety of emergency medical services in one hospital district serving 200, 000 inhabitants in Finland. Counselling is defined as goaloriented, research and evidence-based support and advice, whose purpose is to enhance the coping of patients and their family members during follow-up care at home [9,10].Earlier studies have primarily focused on family counselling interventions for chronic illness [11][12][13][14]. Three general goals that familyfocused interventions have been found to involve are: helping families cope with the challenges of chronic illness management, mobilizing family support and reducing intrafamilial suffering [15].…”