Affiliations: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Brent Braveman, PhD, OTR/L,
University of Illinois at Chicago, M/C 811, 1919 W. Taylor St., Rm 347,
Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Tel.: +1 312 355 2656; Fax: +1 312 413 0256; E-mail:
bbravema@uic.edu
Abstract: Medical advances have transformed HIV/AIDS from a short-term
terminal illness to a long-term chronic condition. Consequently, the disability
experience of persons with HIV illness has shifted from issues related to
physical well-being to those concerning performance of daily life activities
and wider community participation. These changes have necessitated
rehabilitation interventions for persons with HIV/AIDS to focus on issues
related to enabling participation in all spheres of everyday activities.
However, limited information is available on the impairments prevalent in the
emergent population of people living with HIV/AIDS and on the impact of these
impairments on the person's functional performance and participation in various
occupations of daily living. The present study attempted to explore these
issues as they are experienced by the emergent population of people living with
HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the study was: (1) to explore occupational functioning
across various activities, (2) to describe the various impairments prevalent in
this population, and (3) to examine the impact of these impairments on the
person's perceived occupational competence. Two instruments, the Sign and
symptom checklist for persons with HIV disease and the Occupational
Self-Assessment were administered to a sample of 35 individuals (Mean age=42.8
yrs.) living in supportive living facilities. Impairments most commonly
identified by the participants included: fatigue; fear/worries; difficulty
concentrating; muscle aches; and depression. The two primary areas of
occupational functioning where participants reported experiencing moderate to
severe difficulty included: managing finances and physically engaging in
activities which were reported by 67.7% and 35.5% of the participants
respectively. No statistically significant correlation was observed between
various measures of impairments and the overall measure of perceived
occupational competence for the sample of individuals living with HIV/AIDS
included in this study.
