AEGiS-11IAC: Is it possible to plan the home care in relation to characteristics of the people with AIDS?

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Print this Article


Is it possible to plan the home care in relation to characteristics of the people with AIDS?

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:19 (abstract no. We.B.172)
Milanese G, Cancelli A, Fenianos F, Sarrecchia C, Rocchi G; University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the type and the number of interventions which are necessary to meet People with AIDS (PwA)'s needs and the possible correlation between the demographic and clinical variables and the required care, in order to plan assistance.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary service of Home Care (HC) for PwA was started in Rome as of September 1990. The request for different types of services (nursing, medical, social work, psycological and housekeeping) was related to several variables, but mainly on the predominant pathology present at the moment when assistance started.

RESULTS: In four years, 372 PwA (254 M; 118 F) received such service. During this period, 62,927 home interventions were carried out (4.3 int/pat/week on average): 66% were non medical interventions and 34% health care ones (10,944 were necessary for parenteral administration of drugs). PwA who suffered (when HC was started) from Wasting Syndrome (WS) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis required the highest number of interventions. PwA with WS and AIDS Dementia Complex required mainly social interventions, in particular housekeeping (40% and 42% respectively), while for PwA with CMV retinitis about 53% of interventions were health care ones.

CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that HC for PwA is feasible and a multidisciplinary approach is useful since it can meet patients' needs. Knowing the clinical characteristics of patients under HC can help in planning the interventions and rationally organize available resources.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Home Care Services, Health Planning, Cytomegalovirus Retinitis, Health Services Needs and Demand, Delivery of Health Care, Community Health Nursing, Health Resources, Public Health Nursing, Rome, Human, nursing, ICA11

960707
WeB172

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.