- Nicholas, Patrice K;
- Voss, Joachim;
- Wantland, Dean;
- Lindgren, Teri;
- Huang, Emily;
- Holzemer, William L;
- Cuca, Yvette;
- Moezzi, Shahnaz;
- Portillo, Carmen;
- Willard, Suzanne;
- Arudo, John;
- Kirksey, Kenn;
- Corless, Inge B;
- Rosa, María E;
- Robinson, Linda;
- Hamilton, Mary J;
- Sefcik, Elizabeth;
- Human, Sarie;
- Rivero‐Mendez, Marta;
- Maryland, Mary;
- Nokes, Kathleen M;
- Eller, Lucille;
- Kemppainen, Jeanne;
- Dawson‐Rose, Carol;
- Brion, John M;
- Bunch, Elli H;
- Shannon, Maureen;
- Nicholas, Thomas P;
- Viamonte‐Ros, Ana;
- Bain, Catherine A
As part of a larger randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of an HIV/AIDS symptom management manual (n = 775), this study examined the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in HIV-infected individuals at 12 sites in the USA, Puerto Rico, and Africa. Neuropathy was reported by 44% of the sample; however, only 29.4% reported initiating self-care behaviors to address the neuropathy symptoms. Antiretroviral therapy was found to increase the frequency of neuropathy symptoms, with an increased mean intensity of 28%. A principal axis factor analysis with Promax rotation was used to assess the relationships in the frequency of use of the 18 self-care activities for neuropathy, revealing three distinct factors: (i) an interactive self-care factor; (ii) a complementary medicine factor; and (iii) a third factor consisting of the negative health items of smoking, alcohol, and street drugs. The study's results suggest that peripheral neuropathy is a common symptom and the presence of neuropathy is associated with self-care behaviors to ameliorate HIV symptoms. The implications for nursing practice include the assessment and evaluation of nursing interventions related to management strategies for neuropathy.