Research

Center for AIDS Research


Description of the Center for AIDS Research

by Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, RN, FAAN

The Center for AIDS Research provides a comprehensive framework for training, educational programs and research which addresses health promotion, disease prevention, symptom management and quality of life for individuals with HIV.The goal of the Center is to create innovative research and service approaches for the prevention and management of HIV. This objective is fulfilled through research, program development and program evaluations. Education is the philosophical thread that weaves through all Center activities: health promotion and education for clients; clinical and academic training of professionals. Professional training is accomplished through university-based academic programs and clinical affiliation. Faculty interact with graduate professional students, community systems and individual clients and families.

HIV/AIDS Subspecialty Program

by Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, RN, FAAN

Since 1992, expert clinical scientists have been preparing nurses for advanced practice roles in HIV/AIDS by offering a graduate subspecialty program. A series of three elective courses immerse students in virtually all aspects of the illness. Students are exposed to clinical management of patients with HIV, as well as, the social, economic, psychological, ethical and legal issues surrounding this complex disease. This program provides nurses with advanced clinical information and has an aspect of role development in conjunction with clinical mentors. This enables the student who desires to work in a clinical setting as a practitioner or an administrator or a community program developer, the opportunity to work with leaders in the field. Columbia University School of Nursing and their scientists are affiliated with many institutions which are designated as New York State AIDS Center Programs. This environment allows for students and faculty to be embraced with current issues, trends and trials that our clients and colleagues are facing. Three of our graduates were awarded Nicholas A. Rango HIV Fellowships from the New York State AIDS Institute.

HIV/AIDS Subspecialty Curriculum

Note: Each course is offered at three credits for a total of nine credits to complete the subspecialty.

Virtual Classroom HIV/AIDS: A Curriculum for Students in the Health Professions

by Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, RN, FAAN

The Center is also very excited about our clinical scientist's involvement with Dartmouth Medical School's Interactive Media Laboratory in the development of an interactive multimedia program titled, HIV & AIDS: A Curriculum for Students in the Health Professions. The target audience are students in the health professions, with an emphasis on nursing and medical education. The program covers major aspects of HIV and AIDS from the molecular level to the complex psychosocial. The program seeks the highest quality in the use of media, including 3-D graphic models. There are interviews with real patients, health care providers and one simulated patient. They are very moving---even riveting. The clients interviewed are from diverse backgrounds, two are married, one is a gay nurse and one is a mother who lost her child to HIV. The simulated patient is a young woman for whom we provide care for over a period of 4-5 years. It's designed to touch the heart as well as to stimulate the intellect.The program is available on laserdisc and CD-ROM. Our eventual goal is to use this program with multimedia servers and broadband networks, anticipating the imminent proliferation of networks capable of conveying interactive multimedia programming.

Virtual Classroom's Content

Taken from the training video

Section 1: Overview and Background

  1. Introduction: The HIV epidemic
    The virus and immune system. Coordination and continuity of health care: the interdisciplinary team
  2. The natural history of HIV disease

Section 2: Health Maintenance

  1. A model for health maintenance: Cofactors for exposure and transmission, risk assessment Counseling and testing History and physical assessment Monitoring health status, health education Treatments to prevent disease progression HIV-associated conditions General principles for managing late HIV disease Diversity, adversity...reality
  2. Controlling infection in the health care setting, universal precautions, managing exposure in the workplace

Available on CD ROM by Appleton & Lange. Co-developed by Dr. J.K. Anastasi & Dr. J. Henderson, director of the Interactive Media Lab at Dartmouth College.

Research at the Center

by Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, RN, FAAN

The core of the Center's research is to identify and analyze clinical aspects of care facing people with AIDS (PWAs) in various treatment settings. Clinical scientists from the Center are examining physical symptomatology associated with HIV and developing interventions that will promote symptom management and provide comfort for those living with HIV.

The Center has also responded to the rising number of PWAS using alternative/complementary medicine. Researchers at the Center are conducting studies to test the efficacy and safety of Eastern therapies. The goal is to find Eastern modalities that will help patients cope with symptoms of HIV/AIDS.


Dr. Joyce Anastasi performing accupuncture on a patient.

Principal Investigator:
J.K. Anastasi

National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research, Testing Strategies to Reduce Diarrhea in Persons with HIV. (In progress)

Principal Investigator:
J.K. Anastasi
Columbia University: NIH/GCRC. Pilot study: Strategies to Reduce Diarrhea in Patients with HIV Using Acupuncture and Moxibustion. (In progress)

Principal Investigator:
J.K. Anastasi
Strategic Research Award Columbia University. Pilot study: Strategies to Reduce Diarrhea in Patients with HIV infection.

Project Director/Principal Investigator:
J.K. Anastasi
Health and Human Services Training Grant: HIV/AIDS Subspecialization.


Faculty Publications from the Center of Aids Research

JOURNALS

Capili, B. & Anastasi, J. (in press). AIDS & the Elderly: Assessing & identifying those at risk for HIV infection. RN.

Anastasi, J., Dawes, N., & Ming Li, Y. (1997)Diarrhea and HIV: A possible synergy for clinical practice. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 3(2), 163-168.

Anastasi, J. & Capili, B. (1997) Cryptosporidium. Home Health Care Nurse., 15(5), 307-316.Anastasi, J. & Sun, V. (1996). Controlling diarrhea in the HIV patient. AJN 96,(8), 35-42.

Gold, J. & Anastasi, J. (1995). Education opportunities in alternative/complementary medicine for nurses. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, (4), 399-401.

Anastasi, J. & Thomas, F. (1995). Dealing with HIV related pulmonary infections: A self-study. Springhouse: PA.

Anastasi, J. & Thomas, F. (1994). Dealing with HIV related pulmonary infections. Nursing 94, 24(11), 60-64.

Lovejoy, N. & Anastasi, J. (1994). Squamous cell cervical lesions (SIL) in women with and without AIDS: Biochemical risk factors, prevention and policy. Cancer Nursing, 17 (3), 294-307.

Anastasi, J. & Sun-Lee, V. (1994). HIV wasting: How to stop the cycle. AJN 94, (6), 18-24.Anastasi, J. & Rivera, J. (1994). Understanding prophylaxis in HIV. AJN 94, (2), 36-42.

Anastasi, J. (1993). The female condom: A new option [AIDS Update]. Nursing 93, 23(6), 71-72.Anastasi, J. (1993). AIDS Predictions. Nursing 93, 23(6), 48-49.

Anastasi, J. (1993). Caring for patients with diarrhea [AIDS Update]. Nursing 93, 23(8), 68-70.

Anastasi, J. (1993). Diarrhea management in patients with AIDS. Ostomy & Wound Care Management, 14-23.

Anastasi, J. & Rivera, J. (1992). Identifying the skin manifestations of HIV. Nursing 92, 22(11), 58-61.

Anastasi, J. (1992). Why give corticosteriods for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia? AJN 92, 30-32.

Anastasi, J. & Rivera, J. (1992). Chewable form of ddI improves absorption [Consult Stat], RN, 55(7),70.

Anastasi, J. & Linksman Rivera, J. (1991). AIDS drug update: ddI and ddC. RN, 54(11), 41-43.

Anastasi, J. & Linksman Rivera, J. (1991). Nursing consideration in administering ddI and ddC.AIDS Patient Care, 5(1), 9-12.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Anastasi, J. (forthcoming). Alternative and Complementary therapies. In P. Ungavarski & J. Flaskerud (Eds). HIV/AIDS: A guide to nursing care. Saunders.

Anastasi, J. (1996). Gynecologic manifestations of HIV: Pelvic inflammatory disease. In K. McMahon Casey, F. Cohen & A. Hughes (Eds.).ANAC's Core Curriculum for HIV/AIDS Nursing. Nursecom Inc.: PA.

Sweet-Jemmott, L., Catan, V., Nyamathi, A., & Anastasi, J. (1995). Black women & AIDS: African American women and HIV-risk-reduction issues. In A. O'Leary & L.Sweet-Jemmott (Eds.). Women at Risk: Issues in the Primary Prevention of AIDS. Plenum Press: New York.

Anastasi, J. (1995). The Clinical Answer Book (Chapter), Springhouse:PA.Anastasi, J. (1994). Immune and Infectious Disorders (foreword). Springhouse: PA.

How to contact the Center for AIDS Research

Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, RN,FAAN
Director, Center for AIDS Research
617 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
P: (212) 305-1296
E-mail: JKA8@columbia.edu

Miriam Belleca
Study Coordinator
617 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
Ph: (212) 305-0216
E-mail: mb686@columbia.edu

Candy Capili
Research Assistant
617 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
Ph: (212) 305-0216
E-mail: bcap7@aol.com

 

Mary O. Mundinger, Dr.P.H.
Dean, School of Nursing
Mailing Address:
Columbia University School of Nursing
630 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
P: (212) 305-5756
F: (212) 305-6937

Links to HIV Resources

Links to the internet that provide information on HIV and AIDS.