Illness representation and smoking behavior: a focus group study of HIV-positive men.

摘要: Focus group interviews were conducted with 13 men living HIV (mean age = 44.7) to explore their beliefs about cigarette smoking and HIV. Interview data audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, systematically analyzed using inductive techniques. Participants believed provides a number of benefits persons Although participants acknowledged that has disadvantages, smokers generally discounted health risks, noting how it improves sense well-being reasoning they would not live long enough suffer its consequences. is risk factor for HIV-related morbidity mortality, rates are high among Research completed other population groups finds significant in explaining variance behavior change. Smoking-cessation programs targeting HIV-positive may be more successful if illness-specific belief systems taken into account. Additional study warranted substantiate the effectiveness this approach.