What is the evidence for effectiveness of interventions to enhance coping among people living with HIV disease? A systematic review

Abstract

As new treatments enhance mortality, and infection rates continue to grow in many communities, the concept of "living well" with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is essential. The concept of coping has been well-articulated in the HIV literature and the public health argument for enhanced coping is crucial to reduce the burden of disease and health service use. This systematic review aimed to systematically identify and appraise the evidence for effectiveness in HIV coping interventions. A detailed search strategy was implemented and the retained papers entered into common tables for comparative analysis. Interventions were organised into models and data extracted on population, intervention description, tools and outcomes. Following review of all search returns against the included/excluded criteria of the search strategy, 28 peer review papers were retained. Models were psychological (n = 21), drug therapy (n = 3), spiritual (n = 1), diet and exercise (n = 1), mixed models (n = 1) and information management (n = 1). Sixteen of the 28 controlled studies found a significant intervention effect, and cognitive behaviour and stress management interventions offer particular effectiveness. Despite a lack of common outcome tolls, there are useful data that demonstrate effectiveness. Further studies must address outcomes for women and children.

Relationships Between Dimensions of Disability Experienced by Adults Living with HIV: A Structural Equation Model Analysis

“…Adopting lifestyle modifications to maximize health (getting adequate nutrition and sleep, reducing substance use, adhering to medications, exercising, avoiding external stressors and ensuring financial security); establishing a sense of purpose in life; creating a daily structure or routine, and prioritizing tasks and planning for and anticipating the future, offer possible interventions clinicians may consider with their patients [15]. Specifically, cognitive-behavioral 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 and stress management interventions have been used to address anxiety and depression and enhance coping among people with HIV [56][57][58][62][63][64]. Overall findings highlight the importance for health providers and policy makers to consider the role of extrinsic and intrinsic contextual factors (programs, services and interventions) in addressing disability experienced by people living with HIV.…”

Frequently Used Coping Scales: A Meta‐Analysis

“…No study, however, has examined the frequency of their use as reported in a large number of empirical articles, although several studies have reviewed a small number of articles (e.g. Harding, Liu, Catalan, & Sherr, ). Several studies mention the frequency with which coping scales are used.…”

How Have Long-Term Survivors Coped With Living With HIV?

“…While a concept of coping and its measures have been used in various contexts of coping, such as coping styles, strategies, and skills (Harding, Liu, Catalan, & Sherr, 2011), we use the term broadly to focus on positive aspects of dealing with HIV. In a review article, Ironson and Hayward (2008) examined evidence for the relationship between HIV disease progression and positive psychological constructs that included beliefs, positive affect, behaviors, personality dispositions, and social support.…”