Date of Conferral

8-9-2024

Date of Award

August 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Leslie Hussey

Abstract

HIV/AIDS infection, which originally was a fatal disease, is now a treatable, chronic disease with which people can live to reach 70 years of age or older if they comply with treatment. HIV treatment requires adherence to medications, but there is a lack of evidence on therapeutic adherence among older adults in Puerto Rico. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenology study, guided by the health belief model, was to provide a better understanding of HIV therapy adherence among older adults living in Puerto Rico. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 10 HIV-positive adults aged 65 years or older who were recruited from health centers in the northwest and north-central areas of Puerto Rico. Five key themes emerged, which were meanings (subthemes motivation, beliefs, and affect), practices (subthemes positive and negative practices), living conditions (subthemes of perceptions of facilitators and barriers to adherence), participation in making decisions about treatment and knowledge (subthemes of health information and recommendations). Further research is needed to investigate the barriers and facilitators that affect how health care professionals perceive older adults with HIV/AIDS and affect the health care service provided to older adults with HIV/AIDS. The findings have shown the need for education, disease awareness, support services, and improving access to health care, which affects positive social change.

Download

Share

 
COinS