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Biomedical subjects

L Sherr

Publications and source records attributed to L Sherr.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Psychological distress before and immediately after attendance at a male sub-fertility clinic.

Where treatment options are limited, the role of clinical consultation in providing information and support becomes more important. This study examines the immediate impact of medical consultation on male sub-fertility clinic attender's anxiety, depression, self-blame, information appraisal and perceptions of future fertility. Data were collected pre- and immediately post-consultation. Clinical information and consultation details were recorded. Results showed that anxiety levels were high before consultation. Following consultation anxiety and self-blame were both reduced while depression increased. Despite information about poor prognosis being given during consultation, participants remained overly optimistic about their chances of achieving a pregnancy. It appears that the consultation has a distinct psychological impact and possible mechanisms underlying this are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The child in the family--responding to AIDS and HIV.

This study examines the psychosocial needs of children with AIDS and HIV infection based on a cohort of 18 infected children. Fifteen of the children live with their mothers, nine of whom are single mothers. For 14 children the mother is HIV +ve and for a further 8 the father is also HIV +ve. Many children have siblings (10), but only one of these is infected. Close family and grandparents are rarely involved in care and only one child, the oldest, is aware of parental and personal HIV status. Where children attend school or preschool centres none have been informed of the child's HIV infection. Cultural issues are prevalent, especially marked when English is not the first language (n = 10) which renders obstacles for counselling and developmental appraisal. Children in this group are hospitalized more frequently than the parents. Child and parental hospitalization is problematic. Three case situations arising in this group are described in some detail to highlight the nature of the emotional challenges facing carers and service providers.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Testing for HIV in the antenatal clinic: the views of midwives.

Self administered questionnaires were given to 34 midwives, who regularly counsel parturient women about the HIV antibody test, to investigate their attitudes to the test being offered in the antenatal clinic. Most of the midwives felt that testing should not be compulsory and that the test should be offered to all pregnant women who ask for it, not only those in recognized risk groups. Most also felt that women should be told the results of the test and that it should not be the midwives aim to increase the number of women having the test. Most felt that all midwives should counsel about the test but would like health advisers, GPs and obstetricians to be involved also. They also felt that they did not have sufficient knowledge in some areas to counsel particularly with regard to the practical and psychological implications of being HIV positive. This has implications in terms of the provision of adequate pre-test counselling for all pregnant women as an improvement in counselling services requires an allocation of finances, e.g. for training of midwives, which may be seen as unnecessary in areas of low seroprevalence. Further discussion and debate of these issues is required.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1992

Safe sex and women.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual behaviour, condom use, HIV knowledge and anxiety for women were examined to understand the range of sexual behaviours, predictors of safer sex and the extent of relapse. DESIGN: A cross sectional sample of women STD clinic attenders completed interviews and questionnaires. SETTING: Central London STD Clinic. SUBJECTS: 153 women drawn from consecutive attenders at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in inner London. RESULTS: A quarter of the sample had never responded to safe sex and a further 14% had been unable to maintain it over time. Anxiety and knowledge did not differ between safe and relapsed groups, but self efficacy and cognitive variables did. Those who maintained safe sex had significantly less sex. Ten percent of the sample had unprotected anal intercourse. Most women saw themselves in longer term relationships, yet a quarter had sex outside of the relationship and a fifth stated that their partners also did. HIV information gathering was passive and 74% felt they could not protect themselves against infection. High concern over HIV was monitored. Condom uptake was low and non-existent for anal intercourse. 25% had undergone HIV testing. These women did not differ significantly in terms of their behaviour from the untested women. CONCLUSIONS: HIV risks for women are a source of anxiety and tailored intervention is needed to reduce risk and promote dialogue and negotiation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Unique patterns of bereavement in HIV: implications for counselling.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the nature and extent of bereavement problems in HIV + ve clients and the counselling input required. DESIGN: Ninety individuals referred consecutively for counselling by the medical teams after HIV diagnoses were included in the study. Specific bereavement data was gathered by each counsellor according to schedule and semi-structured interviews for all 90 subjects. These data were analysed in conjunction with medical referral letters. SETTING: HIV positive clients attending for treatment at an inner London Hospital. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 91% males and 9% females, mean age 33.82 years (SD 7.2, range 15 to 50 years, mode 28). 44.8% were diagnosed as HIV + ve (asymptomatic), 42.5% had an AIDS diagnosis and the remainder were coded as AIDS Related Complex or unclear. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The subjects were monitored for the presence or absence of bereavement issues, the nature and extent of the reactions and counselling input. The occurrence of single and multiple bereavements was monitored, as were the relationship to the index patient and the health status of the bereaved. RESULTS: Bereavement was mentioned in 28.2% of referrals from medical practitioners yet 43.1% of the patients had been bereaved and used bereavement counselling. 43% spontaneously commenced the session with bereavement issues. They had lost 348 people (average of 12.9 deaths per person reporting). These were overwhelmingly due to AIDS with only 12 (5.6%) not HIV related. 65% linked the bereavement to their own death. Emotional reaction seemed to be independent of the relationship with the deceased but linked with the diagnosis status of the bereaved. CONCLUSION: The emotional consequences of a loss can be severe and long term. The advent of AIDS/HIV has revealed a wave of deaths in a population unused to facing traumatic loss to this extent. There are particular features surrounding AIDS and HIV infection which may differ dramatically from other sorts of loss and challenge previously held notions of bereavement such as the age of the clients, the fact that bereavements are often multiple the illness state of the bereaved person, the taboo surrounding AIDS which often presents barriers to wider social support and the catalogue of losses which any individual has to face. The frequency and high rate of bereavement, often not noted by referrers, suggests similarity with disaster literature in terms of counselling demand.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1991

Women and children.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1991

AIDS--ten years on.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

The impact and use of written leaflets as a counselling alternative in mass antenatal HIV screening.

Pre-test counselling has been seen as a pre-requisite for HIV screening. As HIV moves into the heterosexual community, the role of HIV screening in ante-natal care has increased. As vertical transmission is the major contributor to perinatal infection HIV screening of pregnant women has become a reality. The pregnant population comprises large numbers, the practical difficulties of routine pre-test counselling and the informational demand from pregnant women themselves has necessitated the provision of ante-natal leaflets about HIV infection and AIDS. A survey of 24 London hospitals revealed only three leaflets in use, two from one hospital and one from an AIDS Charity. A content evaluation of the leaflets revealed varying readability, elements of bias and presentation factors which may all affect the usefulness of such leaflets. An in depth qualitative group on the leaflet with highest readability revealed particular concerns and highlighted the fact that the leaflets could be seen as additions and addendums to counselling but were not sufficient in themselves.

Counseling↗
PubMed1990

Fear arousal and AIDS: do shock tactics work?

Fear arousal as an agent for behaviour change has had little recorded success. However, one component of the UK government health education campaign on AIDS (phase 2) used targeted fear messages. This study therefore examined whether the posters (visual) or television advertisements (audiovisual) (1) raised anxiety levels, (2) changed attitudes, and (3) affected sexual behaviour in 111 subjects (59 students and 52 consecutive attenders at a drug-dependency unit). The drug-dependency unit group was significantly more anxious than the students before the campaign (P less than 0.0001). Fear messages significantly increased anxiety in the students (t = 3.8, P less than 0.0001) but had no impact on the drug users. There were no differences between visual and audiovisual material. Thus the campaign did not reach the targeted group but did raise anxiety levels (in the short term) in the students. Perceived personal risk was low and willingness to change sexual behaviour (which was also low) did not differ across groups. Drug-using behaviour was unaltered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of the effectiveness of AIDS training and information courses.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is considered to be the major health threat of the 20th century. The only way to contain the spread of AIDS is by prevention of infection in the first place. This task is essentially one of education. Because the South African Institute for Medical Research is traditionally associated with the prevention of infectious diseases, an AIDS Centre was established to promote education. As part of the launching of the Centre in January 1988, a series of four 1-day courses was held for different target groups. Attendance rates were high and all participants completed a pre- and post-test questionnaire designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the courses and identify existing level of knowledge, present needs and possible future demands. Collected data were examined by correlation analysis, the chi-square test and the t-test. Results generally showed improved changes in knowledge and attitudes about AIDS, and pointed the way forward for future education interventions in the community.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Lifestyle factors for drug users in relation to risks for HIV.

Lifestyle factors in drug users may render them particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. This study examined a group of 74 registered drug users at a Drug Dependency Clinic and compared lifestyle factors in those who were HIV-positive and those HIV-negative. Despite HIV status, sharing was extensive (over 90%). Sharing with partners only is not fail-safe as partners in turn shared. Sexual behaviour within this group may exacerbate risk. A number of subjects reported previous Sexually Transmitted Diseases which may in themselves indicate high levels of sexual activity and act as co-factors for virus spread. Soliciting for sex was reported present among the positives and negatives. Condom use for primary or prophylactic protection was rarely undertaken. There were no differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative respondents indicating the high level of risk faced by the group as a whole. This presents a challenge for the provision of adequate and appropriate health advice and care.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

HIV testing in antenatal clinics: the impact on women.

One hundred and fifty-five women attending antenatal clinics in an inner city area where the rate of AIDS reporting is high were interviewed to examine the acceptability of different modes and purposes of antenatal HIV testing. Eighty-two per cent of women felt the test should be available in antenatal clinics, but only 48% reported that they themselves would take the test. Seventy-four per cent would accept anonymous testing. Potential anxiety levels surrounding the HIV test were significantly higher than for other (currently routine) tests in antenatal clinics. The implications of these findings for policy are discussed.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗