Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A telephone-delivered coping improvement group intervention for middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: By 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that 50% of all cases of HIV/AIDS in the United States will be in persons 50 years of age or older.Purpose: This pilot research tested whether a 12-session, coping improvement group intervention delivered via teleconference technology could improve life quality in 90 middle-age and older adults living with HIV/AIDS.Method: This research used a lagged-treatment control group design. Forty-four HIV-infected persons 50-plus years of age participated in a coping improvement group intervention immediately after study enrollment, whereas 46 individuals received the intervention after their time-matched immediate treatment participants completed the intervention. Participants completed self-administered surveys that assessed depressive and psychological symptoms, life-stressor burden, ways of coping, coping self-efficacy, and loneliness.Results: Outcome analyses indicated that, compared to their delayed treatment counterparts, immediate treatment participants reported fewer psychological symptoms, lower levels of life-stressor burden, increased coping self-efficacy, and less frequent use of avoidance coping. After receiving the intervention, delayed treatment participants reported greater coping self-efficacy and less psychological symptomatology, lifestressor burden, and loneliness. However, the intervention demonstrated little ability to reduce depressive symptoms in this sample of HIV-infected older adults diagnosed with depression.Conclusions: Although findings from this research suggest that telephone-delivered, coping improvement group interventions have potential to facilitate the adjustment efforts of HIV-infected older adults, more rigorous evaluations of this intervention modality for this group are needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2003 (Vol. 15). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2003 (Vol. 15). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004, p. 10.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ory MG, Mack K: Middle-aged and older people with AIDS.Research on Aging. 1998,20:653–664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Carpenter CCJ, Fischl MA, Hammer SM, et al.: Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in 1998: Updated recommendations of the International AIDS Society, U.S. Panel.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998,280:78–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hammer SM, Squires KE, Hughes MD, et al.: A controlled trial of two nucleoside analogues plus indinavir in persons with human immunodeficiency virus infections and CD4 cell counts of 200 per cubic millimeter or less.New England Journal of Medicine. 1997,337:725–733.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2003 (Vol. 15). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004, p. 25.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Crystal S, Sambamoorthi U: Health care needs and services delivery for older persons with HIV/AIDS.Research on Aging. 1998,20:739–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Skiest DJ, Rubenstein E, Carley N, Gioiella L, Lyons R: The importance of comorbidity in HIV-infected patients over 55: A retrospective case-control study.American Journal of Medicine. 1996,101:605–611.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Skiest DJ: The importance of co-morbidity in older HIV-infected patients.AIDS. 2003,17:1577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Heckman TG, Kochman A, Sikkema KJ, Kalichman SC: Depressive symptomatology, daily stressors, and ways of coping among middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS.Journal of Mental Health and Aging. 1999,5:311–322.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kalichman SC, Heckman TG, Kochman AR, Sikkema KJ, Bergholte J: Suicidal ideation among midlife and older adults living with HIV/AIDS.Psychiatric Services. 2000,51:903–907.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nokes K, Holzemer WJ, Corless IB, et al.: Health-related quality of life in persons younger and older than 50 who are living with HIV/AIDS.Research on Aging. 2000,22:290–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. (13) Catz S, Heckman TG, Kochman AR, DiMarco M: Rates and predictors of adherence to HIV medications among late middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS.Psychology, Health, and Medicine. 2001,6:47–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Heckman B, Catz S, Heckman TG, Miller JG, Kalichman SC: Adherence to antiretroviral therapies among HIV-infected rural persons.AIDS Care. 2004,16:219–230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kerr T, Palepu A, Barness G, et al.: Psychosocial determinants of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy among injection drug users in Vancouver.Antiviral Therapy. 2004,9:407–414.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Murphy DA, Greenwell L, Hoffman D: Factors associated with antiretroviral adherence among HIV-infected women with children.Women Health. 2002,36:97–111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Wilson IB, Tchetgen E, Spiegelman D: Patterns of adherence with antiretroviral medications: An examination of betweenmedication differences.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2001,28:259–263.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Folkman S, Chesney M, McKusick L, et al.: Translating coping theory into intervention. In Eckenrode J (ed),The Social Context of Coping. New York: Plenum, 1991, 239–259.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Chesney M, Folkman S, Chambers D: Coping effectiveness training for men living with HIV: Preliminary findings.International Journal of STDs & AIDS. 1996,7(Suppl. 2):75–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Lazarus RS, Folkman S:Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. New York: Springer, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Heckman TG, Kochman AR, Kalichman SC, Masten J, Catz S: A coping improvement intervention for middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS.AIDS Care. 2001,12:613–624.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Chesney MA, Chambers DB, Taylor JM, Johnson LM: Social support, distress, and well-being in older men living with HIV infection.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2003,33(Suppl. 2):S185-S193.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Crystal S, Akincigil A, Sambamoorthi U, et al.: The diverse older HIV-positive population: A national profile of economic circumstances, social support, and quality of life.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2003,33(Suppl. 2):S76-S83.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Meadows J, le Marechal K, Catalan J: Mental health problems in older adults with HIV referred to a psychological medicine unit.AIDS Care. 1998,10(Suppl. 2):S105–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, the Patient Health Questionnaire Primary Care Study Group: Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999,282:1737–1744.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kobak KA, Taylor LH, Dottl SL, et al.: A computer-administered telephone interview to identify mental disorders.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1997,278:905–910.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Teng EL, Chui HC: The Modified Mini-Mental Status (3MS) examination.Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1987,48:314–318.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR: “Mini-Mental State.” A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician.Journal of Psychiatric Research. 1975,12:189–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Norton MC, Tschanz JT, Fan X, et al.: Telephone adaptation of the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam.Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, & Behavioral Neurology. 1999,12:270–276.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Yesavage J, Brink T, Rose T, Leirer V: Development and validation of the geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report.Journal of Psychiatry Research. 1983,17:37–49.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kalichman SC, Sikkema KJ, Somlai A: Assessing persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection using the Beck Depression Inventory: Disease process and other potential confounds.Journal of Personality Assessment. 1995,64:86–100.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Derogatis LR:SCL-90-R, Administration, Scoring & Procedures Manual-II. Towson, MD: Clinical Psychometric Research, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sikkema KJ, Kalichman SC, Hoffmann R, et al.: Coping strategies and emotional well-being among HIV-infected men and women experiencing AIDS-related bereavement.AIDS Care. 2000,12:613–624.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Russell D, Peplau LA, Cutrona CE: The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1980,39:472–480.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Folkman S, Lazarus RS:The Ways of Coping. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Heckman TG, Kochman A, Sikkema K: Depressive symptoms in older adults living with HIV disease: Application of the Chronic Illness Quality of Life Model.Journal of Mental Health and Aging. 2002,8:267–279.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Jacobson NS, Traux P: Clinical significance: A statistical approach to defining meaningful change in psychotherapy research.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1991,59:12–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Ogles BM, Lunnen KM, Bonesteel K: Clinical significance: History, application, and current practice.Clinical Psychology Review. 2001,21:421–446.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Chesney MA, Chambers DB, Taylor JM, Johnson LM, Folkman S: Coping effectiveness training for men living with HIV: Results from a randomized clinical trial testing a group-based intervention.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2003,65:1038–1046.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Levy JA: HIV/AIDS and injecting drug use in later life.Research on Aging. 1998,20:776–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Stall R, Catania J: AIDS risk behaviors among late middle-aged and elderly Americans. The National AIDS Behavioral Surveys.Archives of Internal Medicine. 1994,154:57–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Justice AC, Weissman S: The survival experience of older and younger with AIDS.Research on Aging. 1998,20:665–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Kalichman SC, Ramachandran B, Ostrow D: Protease inhibitors and the new AIDS combination therapies: Implications for psychological services.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 1999,29:349–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Goodkin K, Heckman T, Siegel S, et al.: “Putting a face” on HIV infection/AIDS in older adults: A psychosocial context.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2003,33(Suppl. 2):S171-S184.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Levy JA, Ory MG, Crystal S: HIV/AIDS interventions for midlife and older adults: Current status and challenges.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2003,33(Suppl. 2):S59-S67.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Lambert MJ, Ogles BM: The efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy. In Lambert MJ (ed),Bergin and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change (5th ed). New York: Wiley, 2004, 139–193.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Mohr DC: Negative outcome in psychotherapy: A critical review.Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 1995,2:1–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Mohr DC, Likosky W, Bertagnolli A, et al.: Telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis.Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology. 2000,68:356–362.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Wells AM, Garvin V, Dohm F, Striegel-Moore RH: Telephone-based guided self-help for binge eating disorder: A feasibility study.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1997,21:341–346.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Friedman RH, Kazis LE, Jette A, et al.: A telecommunications system for monitoring and counseling patients with hypertension: Impact on medication adherence and blood pressure control.American Journal of Hypertension. 1996,9:285–292.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Greineder DK, Loane KC, Parks P: Reduction in resource utilization by an asthma outreach program.Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 1995,149:415–420.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. McBride CM, Rimer BK: Using the telephone to improve health behavior and health service delivery.Patient Education and Counseling. 1999,37:3–18.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Cahn-Weiner DA, Malloy PF, Rebok GW, Ott BR: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled study of memory training for mildly impaired Alzheimer’s disease patients.Applied Neuropsychology. 2003,10:215–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Li F, Fisher KJ, Harmer P: Improving physical function and blood pressure in older adults through cobblestone mat waking: A randomized trial.Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 2005,53:1305–1312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Li F, Fisher KJ, Harmer P, et al.: Tai chi and self-rated quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness in older adults: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 2004,52:892–900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Rejeski WJ, Brawley LR, Ambrosius WT, et al.: Older adults with chronic disease: Benefits of group-mediated counseling in the promotion of physically active lifestyles.Health Psychology. 2003,22:414–423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ohio University, 200 Porter Hall, 45701, Athens, OH

    Timothy G. Heckman Ph.D.

  2. Department of Educational Research, Ohio University, USA

    Robert Barcikowski Ph.D.

  3. Department of Psychology, Ohio University, USA

    Benjamin Ogles Ph.D., Julie Suhr Ph.D., Bruce Carlson Ph.D., Kenneth Holroyd Ph.D. & John Garske Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Timothy G. Heckman Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert Barcikowski Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Benjamin Ogles Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Julie Suhr Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bruce Carlson Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kenneth Holroyd Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. John Garske Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy G. Heckman Ph.D..

Additional information

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (R21 AG20334).

About this article

Cite this article

Heckman, T.G., Barcikowski, R., Ogles, B. et al. A telephone-delivered coping improvement group intervention for middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS. ann. behav. med. 32, 27–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3201_4

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3201_4

Keywords

Search

Navigation