The stresses of hospitalization among AIDS patients on integrated and special care units.

This study examined the stresses of hospitalization in AIDS patients and assessed the extent to which two different inpatient delivery systems differed with respect to perceived stresses in these patients. Patients from four AIDS dedicated special care units (SCU's) and five AIDS integrated units (IU's) in eight acute care hospitals were surveyed using a modified version of the Volicer Hospital Stress Rating Scale. Stresses related to loss of independence, separation from loved ones and problems with medications were experienced equally by both groups of patients. However, SCU patients had lower total hospital stress scores than IU patients in terms of the number of stresses experienced (p = 0.008) and how bothersome these stresses were perceived to be (p = 0.02). Additionally, patients on IU's more frequently experienced and were bothered by factors associated with ambiguity about their care and condition and feelings of abandonment and impersonal or discriminatory treatment.