Self- and Family-Management Intervention in HIV+ Chinese Women

This is a 3-year mentored patient-oriented research project to develop, adapt and test a self- and family-management intervention targeting HIV+ women in China to improve HIV health outcomes. The specific aims of the research project are to: (a) conduct a secondary qualitative analysis of 68 in-depth interviews to further illuminate the sociocultural and family context of HIV+ Chinese women, (b) develop and adapt a theory-driven, culturally sensitive and feasible intervention to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes of HIV+ Chinese women and their families, and (c) conduct a feasibility, compliance, and acceptability study for a self- and family-management intervention with 10 HIV+ women and their family members. The main goal is to adapt and develop an evidence-based culturally suitable self- and family-management intervention using Grey’s self- and family-management framework. This intervention will assist HIV+ women in adjusting to their illness psychologically and socially, while helping them to decrease stress and enhance their level of social support. In the process, these women will also gain the knowledge and skills they need to cope with HIV.