Evaluation of Health Map: A Patient-Centered, Web-Based Service for Supporting HIV-Infected Patients in Australia

The authors undertook the current study "to describe the use of and responses to a self-management website, 'Health Map,' established to address the key chronic health issues of HIV-positive people." The site "assessed health issues against current recommendations for: treatment adherence, monitoring CD4 counts and viral load, psychological health and physical activity, vaccination, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index, and cervical screening for women and [STD] screening for men who have sex with men (MSM)."

The subjects were 552 individuals who completed the full Health Map program. Their mean age was 37 years; 536 (97 percent) were Australian; and 425 (77 percent) were male, including 268 MSM (63 percent).

Several of the group's responses "were of concern," the authors noted. Almost half (49 percent) reported missing at least one dose of antiretroviral therapy per month, while only 41 percent had undergone viral load assessment in the preceding four months. Just 43 percent said they took part in regular physical activity. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B was reported by 49 percent and 61 percent, respectively. Low uptake within the recommended periods was noted for tests for fasting cholesterol (40 percent) and fasting blood sugar (35 percent), and for cervical screening for women (43 percent) and STD testing for MSM (53 percent).

"A substantial proportion of individuals completing the online survey reported information that would suggest their HIV and more general health care is suboptimal," the authors concluded. "These data are consistent with community surveys and indicate the need for improvement in the chronic management of HIV."

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