Masters Degrees (Nursing and Midwifery)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Nursing and Midwifery) by Subject "Aids (Disease) -- Patients -- Treatment"

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    The knowledge about HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral treatment of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Terblanche, Lauren Muriel; Stellenberg, E. L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Nursing Science.; Baird, Lauren Muriel
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many HIV positive patients are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to assist in decreasing the replication of the HIV virus within the body. Adherence to this medication is important, as non- adherence can have serious repercussions. Therefore, the patients’ knowledge of ART and their disease is crucial in ensuring good adherence. A range of barriers to patient education were suspected by the researcher in this community of Delft. The high influx of patients into the clinic everyday minimized consultation time and thereby diminished the opportunity for effective patient education. Consequently, adherence to medication which is closely related to the knowledge and understanding of patients about the disease may be affected. The following research question was therefore explored: What is the knowledge of infected HIV/AIDS patients who are receiving antiretroviral treatment about HIV/AIDS and ART? The objectives set were to evaluate the patient’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS, evaluate the knowledge of ART and to determine whether there are statistical differences between the dependant and independent variables within the study. A quantitative descriptive correlational research design was applied and a convenience sample of n= 200 (8.5%) patients was selected from a population of N= 2349 at the Delft Community Health Centre. A multiple choice questionnaire comprising of mainly closed ended questions with multiple responses was used in individual interviews conducted by either the researcher or fieldworker. Reliability and validity was ensured through the consultation of experts in the fields of research methodology, statistics, HIV/AIDS and the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University. Permission to conduct this study was granted by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University, the Provincial Regional Head for Primary Health Care Services, as well as the head of the Delft Community Health Centre. Data revealed that the participants were mainly female (n=145/72.5%), and the mean age was 37.5 years. Participants were mostly Xhosa speaking and literate, and the majority (n=112/56%), of the participants had a highest education level between grade 9 and grade 12. Many (n=73/36.5%) of the participants had been living with HIV for more than 5 years, but had been on ART for between 1 to 3 years. Knowledge was assessed by asking questions about various aspects of HIV and ART throughout the study. Scores for the 14 critical questions revealed that (n=0/0%) of the participants had good knowledge, (n=40/20%) of the participants had average knowledge and (n=160/80%) of the participants had poor knowledge. The average score for all participants for all 20 knowledge testing questions was (12.6/63%). The findings showed that the overall knowledge (n=160/80%) is poor. Basic terms and principles of HIV/AIDS and ART were not understood and serious misconceptions regarding the disease were revealed.