Exploring the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of the side effects of antiretroviral drugs amongst staff and HIV patients at public healthcare institutions in the Frances Baard District of the Northern Cape South Africa, 2012

Date
2013-03
Authors
Herbert, Josephine Winley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: “What do HIV patients and staff members think about when they hear the word "Side effect‟? Skin rashes, dizziness, nightmares, painful feet are some of the common side effects that patients on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) experience once treatment is initiated on ARVs but it is said that these side effects are temporary and transient. Are patients and staff able to understand the concept of a side effect if they can or cannot understand the manifestation of this condition called HIV? Does a patient perceive a side effect as a good or bad thing and will the side effects change as our patients continue on the ARVs and become older? As the HIV programs progress over time should we not be educating our patients on the longer term side effects such as cardio toxicity, bone disorders and nephrotoxicity or are we of the opinion that we should not tell our patients about the long-term side effects in case it scares them and disrupts treatment? ” These are some of the questions that prompted this research study. The researcher explored the practices at two public healthcare facilities in order to understand the knowledge, perception and attitudes of the side effects of ARVs amongst staff and HIV patients. A total of sixty two (62) HIV patients and twenty five (25) staff members participated in this research study and the researcher used both the quantitative and qualitative research methods to execute the study. The objectives of the study were: - To assess the knowledge, perception and attitude of the side effects of ARVs amongst staff and HIV patients at KHC and GDH - To identify current practices at KHC and GDH that support the understanding and knowledge of the side effects of ARVs amongst staff and HIV patients - To identify the gaps between the knowledge and existing practises amongst staff and HIV patients at KHC and GDH - To provide recommendations to improve the perception, attitude and knowledge about the side effects of ARVs amongst staff and HIV patients It was found that the patients and staff are knowledgeable about the common side effects of ARVs but patients have the need to be informed about as many side effects as possible in order for them to understand their condition. It is further recommended that support groups, counselling services and health talks be provided at facilities to encourage the understanding of the side effects of ARVs amongst all patients and staff members.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Waaroor dink MIV-pasiënte en personeellede wanneer hulle die word “newe-effekte " hoor? Veluitslag, duiseligheid, nagmerries, pynlike voete is 'n paar van die algemene newe-effekte wat pasiënte op anti-retrovirale middels (ARMs) ervaar nadat hulle behandeling begin op ARMs en dit word gesê dat hierdie newe-effekte tydelik en verbygaande is. Is pasiënte en personeel in staat om die konsep van 'n newe-effekte verstaan as hulle dalk nie die manifestasie van MIV kan verstaan nie? Dink 'n pasiënt dat newe-effekte 'n goeie of n slegte eienskap is en dink hulle die newe-effekte sal verander soos pasiënte op die ARMs verouer? Moet ons nie ons pasiënte en personeellede oplei oor die langtermyn newe-effekte soos kardiotoksisiteit, been-afwykings en nefrotoksisiteit of is u van mening dat ons dit liewers moet vermy as om patiente af te skrik en hulle behandeling te ontwrig? Hierdie is 'n paar van die vrae wat deur die navorser gevra word in hierdie navorsingstudie. Die navorser ondersoek die praktyke by twee openbare gesondheidsorg fasiliteite om ten einde die kennis,persepsies en houdingsvan die newe-effekte van ARMs in personeel en MIV-pasiënte te verstaan. 'n Totaal van sestig(62) MIV-pasiënte en vyf en twintig(25)personeellede het in hierdie navorsingstudie deelgeneem en die navorser het beide die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes gebruik om die studie uit te voer. Die doelwitte van die studie was om: • die kennis,persepsie en houding van die newe-effekte van ARMs te assesseer onder personneel en pasiënte by KHC en GDH • huidige praktyke by KHC en GDH wat ondersteuning bied vir die begrip en kennis van die newe-effekte van ARMs onder personeel en MIV-pasiënte te identifiseer • die gapings tussen die kennis en bestaande praktyke onder personeel en MIV-pasiënte te identifiseer by KHC en GDH • aanbevelingste voorsien om die persepsie, houding en kennis oor die newe-effekte van ARM sonder personeel en MIV-pasiënte te verbeter Daar is bevind dat die pasiënte en personeel goed ingelig is oor die algemene newe-effekte van ARMS, maar pasiënte wil oor die meeste newe-effekte ingelig word om ten einde hul toestande te verstaan. Dit word verder aanbeveel dat ondersteuning groepe, beradingsdienste en gesondheid gesprekke voorsien moet word om die begrip van die newe-effekte van ARMS onder alle pasiënte en personeel aan te moedig.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Antiretroviral agents -- Side effects, HIV infections -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Northern Cape, Antiretroviral agents -- Side effects -- Public opinion, HIV infections -- Treatment -- Public opinion -- South Africa -- Northern Cape, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management
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