Biomedical subjects

Jane M Simoni

Publications and source records attributed to Jane M Simoni.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Abuse, health locus of control, and perceived health among HIV-positive women.

This study of 230 predominantly poor Hispanic and African American women aged 25 to 61 years living with HIV/AIDS in New York City revealed high levels of both sexual (39%) and physical (44%) trauma before the age of 16. Both types of early trauma were correlated with later trauma, and all forms of trauma were significantly associated with current perceived health. In multivariate analyses controlling for relevant covariates, the Powerful Others and Internal Control subscales of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (K. A. Wallston, B. S. Wallston, & R. DeVellis, 1978) acted as independent predictors of perceived health rather than (as hypothesized) mediators of the association between trauma and perceived health. Findings underscore the importance of addressing trauma and perceptions of control over one's physical health in the provision of health services to HIV-positive women.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Substance use among American Indians and Alaska natives: incorporating culture in an "indigenist" stress-coping paradigm.

OBJECTIVES: This article proposes a new stress-coping model for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs) that reflects a paradigmatic shift in the conceptualization of Native health. It reviews sociodemographic information on AIs, rates of substance abuse and related health outcomes, and the research supporting the model's pathways. OBSERVATIONS: Although health outcomes among AIs are improving, large disparities with other racial and ethnic groups in the United States remain. Many health-related problems are directly linked to high rates of substance use and abuse. CONCLUSION: Eurocentric paradigms focus on individual pathology. An "indigenist" perspective of health incorporates the devastating impact of historical trauma and ongoing oppression of AIs. The model emphasizes cultural strengths, such as the family and community, spirituality and traditional healing practices, and group identity attitudes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A two-way messaging system to enhance antiretroviral adherence.

Failure to adhere to complex antiretroviral regimens can lead to resistance and treatment failure among HIV-positive persons. In this study of the feasibility of an automated two-way messaging system to improve adherence, participants received multiple short daily messages designed to remind, educate, encourage adherence, and solicit responses concerning side effects and self-reported adherence. Twenty-five participants remained in the study for a median of 208 days, receiving 17,440 messages and replying to 14,677 (84%). Participants reported missing one or more doses on 36% of 743 queries and reported medication side effects on 26% of 729 queries. Participants expressed high satisfaction with the messaging system and reported that it helped with medication adherence. The study suggests that it is feasible to use an automated wireless two-way messaging system to communicate with HIV-positive patients over an extended period of time.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Antiretroviral adherence interventions: a review of current literature and ongoing studies.

Adherence has proven to be Achilles' heel of antiretroviral therapy. To achieve the nearly perfect adherence apparently necessary for optimal effects, individuals often require assistance. In this review, we examine antiretroviral therapy adherence intervention studies and reviews published through January 2003 as well as abstracts of ongoing National Institutes of Health-funded research projects aimed at enhancing antiretroviral therapy adherence. The 21 published studies we located utilized 4 intervention strategies: cognitive-behavioral, behavioral, directly observed therapy, and affective. Most of these were pilot or feasibility studies. However, the 4 randomized controlled trials conducted with adequate methologic rigor suggest some promising yet preliminary effects of a pharmacist-led individualized intervention, a cognitive-behavioral educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory, and cue-dose training when combined with monetary reinforcement. The 39 ongoing federally funded studies offer superior methodologic sophistication and include some innovative strategies, such as the use of handheld devices, two-way pagers, and alarmed medication vials, along with enhancement of social and emotional support.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Secrets and safety in the age of AIDS: does HIV disclosure lead to safer sex?

To fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic, HIV-seropositive individuals must interact unsafely with HIV-seronegative individuals. Research indicates that up to one third of individuals diagnosed with HIV continue to have unprotected sex, at times without informing partners, who may be of negative or unknown serostatus. Some research and public health interventions have focused on encouraging HIV-positive individuals to reveal their serostatus to their sexual partners, predicated upon the assumption that disclosure will increase the safety of subsequent sexual activity with informed partners. This review examines the empirical literature on disclosure of HIV status and subsequent sexual risk behaviors of HIV-positive individuals. Only 15 of the 23 studies reviewed provided data that allowed us to examine the association between disclosure and safer sex. Fewer still provided a methodologically sound analysis, and those that did provided conflicting results, often with significant effects limited to only 1 subgroup of participants. However, this failure to demonstrate a consistent association does not necessarily mean that disclosure is irrelevant to the practice of safer sex. We discuss limitations of the research to date and implications for policy and practice.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗