Optimal Environments for Integrated Care: Complementary and Alternative Medicine in HIV Management in British Columbia

The use of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among persons with HIV has effectively doubled since the advent of HAART, however cost, lack of information and poor communication pose risks. The objectives of this research are to assess PWA and conventional health care provider perception of the risks and benefits of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), to describe communication between PWAs and conventional health care providers about CAM, and to elucidate associated legal and ethical issues, to identify recommendations for improved communication about CAM and the integration of complementary, alternative and conventional medicine. Implementation of such recommendations can optimize the benefits and reduce the risks associated with CAM in the context of HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support. Twenty health care providers were interviewed for this research and 49 persons with AIDS who used CAM participated in focus groups and completed surveys on their use of CAM and communication with health care providers. The results of this research is presented along with a list of prioritized recommendations regarding access to CAM, delivery of care in the form of integrated HIV care clinics, funding research on CAM and educating conventional health care providers about CAM.