Access and equity in HIV/AIDS palliative care: A review of the evidence and responses

Richard Harding, Philippa Easterbrook, Irene J. Higginson, Dan Karus, Victoria H. Raveis, Katherine Marconi

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

The high prevalence of pain and other symptoms throughout the HIV disease trajectory, the need for management of side effects related to antiretroviral therapy, the continuing incidence of cancers and new emerging co-morbidities as a result of extended life expectancy under new therapeutic regimes, and the ongoing need for terminal care all prove the curative versus palliative dichotomy to be inappropriate. Although there is evidence for both need and effectiveness of palliative care in HIV patient care, access is often poor and care less than optimal. This review aimed to identify evidence of barriers and inequalities in HIV palliative care in order to inform policy and service development. Biomedical databases were searched using a specific strategy, and evidence extracted into the barrier and inequity categories of patient, clinician, service and disease factors. A model of the barriers and inequalities is presented from the evidence. Recommendations are made from the evidence for promoting access and outcomes through integrated palliative care from diagnosis to end-of-life, alongside antiretroviral therapy when initiated. Service responses that have attempted to increase access to palliative care are presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)251-258
Number of pages8
JournalPalliative Medicine
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

Keywords

  • Access
  • HIV
  • Hospice
  • Pain
  • Palliative
  • Review

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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