Utilization of social media and web forums by HIV patients - A cross-sectional study on adherence and reported anxiety level.

ABSTRACT: Due to the high stigma surrounding the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), people living with HIV (PLWH) often reach out peers over the Internet for emotional and social support. The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of PLWH who use HIV internet forums. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey investigating demographic characteristics of PLWH, level of satisfaction of the HIV Internet forums, time living with HIV, forum users' anxiety levels, self-reported adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART), and reasons for missing pills (n = 222). Logistic regression models were constructed to compare the use of general HIV forums with social networking sites, general HIV forums with group emails, and social networking sites with group emails. Two hundred

SUBMITTER: Longinetti E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5345957 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature