WHOQOL-HIV for quality of life assessment among people living with HIV and AIDS: results from the field test

AbstractHIV has become a chronic disease since widespread of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Understanding the influence of therapeutic and preventive interventions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) is important. Information about health state utilities and HRQoL in PLWHA after the introduction of cART is limited, especially in Germany. The study aims to estimate and describe health state utilities and HRQoL in PLWHA in Germany and explore the effects of patient characteristics, clinical and treatment factors. Utilities and HRQoL in PLWHA in Germany were measured with the generic EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Health state utilities were calculated based on the EQ-5D descriptive system using the German EQ-5D-3L time trade-off (TTO) value set. HRQoL was calculated based on the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Extensive descriptive analyses were performed to represent utility values for different groups of the patients. Generalized linear models (GLMs) with beta-inflated distributions were used to determine patient characteristics and clinical factors that influence TTO utilities and VAS scores. 1056 PLWHA completed the EQ-5D-3L questionnaires at the beginning of the study. The mean TTO utility value is 0.912 (SD ± 0.154), and the mean VAS HRQoL is 84.32 (SD ± 18.55). “Anxiety/depression” and “pain/physical discomfort” are the most affected dimensions. A longer period of living with HIV, a lower CD4-cell count, having symptomatic HIV or AIDS and an increased number of changes in therapy are associated with decreased utilities and a lower probability of having HRQoL of perfect health. No significant effect of duration of regimen was found. Depression significantly decreases TTO utility values. Higher education, full-time employment and female gender are associated with higher utilities. The resulted EQ-VAS values for PLWHA in Germany are comparable with EQ-VAS estimates for the general population. The obtained estimates can be used as inputs for health economic evaluations of HIV-interventions. Addressing anxiety and depression may reduce the quality of life impairment in PLWHA. Impact of comorbidities needs further investigation.

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Quality of Life of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Estonia

Central European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.21101/cejph.a3461 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 111-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kristi Rüütel ◽

Anneli Uusküla ◽

Anastassia Minossenko ◽

Helle-Mai Loit

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv

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PARTNERS IN CRIME: PENTECOSTALISM AND BOTSWANA HIV/AIDS POLICY ON CROSS-BORDER MIGRANTS

Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae ◽

10.25159/2412-4265/87 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 20-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rosinah Gabaitse

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Strict Adherence ◽

Cross Border ◽

Pentecostal Theology ◽

Pentecostal Churches ◽

Living With Hiv

In this paper I seek to interrogate how the theology of some Pentecostal churches, especially the theology that God heals HIV and AIDS, interacts with the situation of cross-border migrants in Botswana. I also seek to discuss the Botswana HIV policy which denies HIV-positive cross-border migrants access to Anti-Retroviral treatment (henceforth ARVs) which has proven to prolong and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Conflict exists between Botswana HIV policy on strict adherence to ARVs and some Pentecostal churches’ insistence that members of their churches living with HIV are healed by God, and therefore they should not take ARVs. While the Pentecostal Church is a ‘home away from home’ for migrants, their theology is in constant conflict and clashes with Botswana HIV health policy, even if the reality is that the same policy denies migrants access to HIV services. It is ironic that both the HIV policy and the Pentecostal theology are in pursuit of preserving life; yet, they both deny cross-border migrants that very life.

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Quality of life domains relevant to people living with HIV and AIDS who are on antiretroviral therapy in Swaziland

Curationis ◽

10.4102/curationis.v35i1.87 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Theresa T. Ntshakala ◽

Thandisizwe R. Mavundla ◽

Bethabile L. Dolamo

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Cognitive Domain ◽

Second Phase ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Contextual Design ◽

Context Specific ◽

Living With Hiv

Quality of life (QOL) domains that are context specific to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Swaziland are unknown. This presents a problem when research has to be conducted on QOL of PLWHA who are on ART. As a result, this study was conducted to identify, validate and describe domains necessary to assess QOL of PLWHA, who are on ART in Swaziland. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was used for this study. The first phase dealt with a review of fifty existing QOL definitions and the identification of the common domains amongst them. Findings from this review revealed that the most common domains of QOL are the physiological, psychological, spiritual and socio-economic domains. The second phase was the validation of the above common domains identified from the examined QOL definitions to make them context specific to PLWHA who are on ART in Swaziland. A workshop was used to validate the domains with expert nurses involved in the care of PLWHA in Swaziland. The experts in ART care were trained on ART and had more than a year’s experience of working with PLWHA who are on ART. The validation process revealed that the essential context specific domains to consider when assessing QOL of PLWHA who are on ART are, (1) physiological domain, (2) psychological domain, (3) spiritual domain, (4) socio-economic domain, (5) cognitive domain, and (6) environmental domain. The process of validation of the domains was important as two extra domains were revealed, which were not initially recognised by the researcher during literature review.

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Factors related quality of life among people living with HIV and AIDS in Bulukumba

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20182966 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (8) ◽

pp. 3227

Author(s):

Andi Suswani ◽

A. Arsunan Arsin ◽

Ridwan Amiruddin ◽

Muhammad Syafar ◽

Sukri Palutturi

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Quality ◽

Living With Hiv

Background: Good quality of life is a condition that must be achieved and maintained by PLHIVs. This study aims to identify factors related to the quality of life among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Bulukumba district.Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted among 42 PLHIV. The samples were selected by using purposive sampling technique which was conducted for 30 days. Data was collected by using WHOQOL-HIV BREF and analyzed by logistic regression to identified factors related quality of life.Results: Most (52.4%) of PLHIV have not good quality of life. Bivariate analysis showed that behavior (p=0.0293), ARV access (p=0.0197) and adherence (p=0.0088) were factors that increased quality of life among PLHIV. Adherence variable was the greatest influence to the quality of life with OR 11.06 with CI 95% 1.22-100.38.Conclusions:Behavior, ARV access easily, and treatment adherence were factors that influence quality of life among PLHIV. Improving behavior, access ARV, and adherence are recommended to maintain quality of life.

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Quality of life and needs assessment on people living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi

AIDS Care ◽

10.1080/09540121.2010.507742 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 287-302 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Angela Pei-Chen Fan ◽

Huai-Ching Claire Kuo ◽

Diana Yu-Ting Kao ◽

Donald E. Morisky ◽

Yi-Ming Arthur Chen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Needs Assessment ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv

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Quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS and antiretroviral therapy

HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care ◽

10.2147/hiv.s32321 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 117 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Oluwafemi Oguntibeju

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv

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Quality of life of People living with HIV and AIDS attending the Antiretroviral Clinic, University College Hospital, Nigeria

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v4i1.294 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Oluyemisi F. Folasire ◽

Achiaka E. Irabor ◽

Ayorinde M. Folasire

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Antiretroviral Drugs ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Social Domain ◽

The Mean ◽

Living With Hiv

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is an important component in the evaluation of the well-being of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), especially with the appreciable rise in longevity of PLWHA. Moreover, limited studies have been conducted in Nigeria on how PLWHA perceive their life with the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL-Bref) instrument. Objective: This study assessed the QOL of PLWHA attending the antiretroviral (ARV) clinics, UCH Ibadan, Nigeria.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2008 that involved 150 randomly selected HIV-positive patients who were regular attendees at the antiretroviral clinic, UCH Ibadan. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic data, satisfaction with perceived social support, medical records, and QOL was assessed with WHOQOL-Bref.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 38.1 ± 9.0 years and the male : female ratio was 1:2. The mean CD4 count was higher in female patients than in male patients, 407 cells/mm3 : 329 cells/mm3 (p = 0.005). The mean QOL scores on the scale of (0–100) in three domains were similar: psychological health, 71.60 ± 18.40; physical health, 71.60 ± 13.90; and the environmental domain, 70.10 ± 12.00; with the lowest score in the social domain, 68.89 ± 16.70. Asymptomatic HIV-positive patients had significantly better mean QOL scores than symptomatic patients in the physical (74.04 ± 16.85 versus 64.47 ± 20.94, p = 0.005) and psychological domains (76.09 ± 12.93 versus 69.74 ± 15.79, p = 0.015). There was no significant difference in the mean QOL scores of men compared to those of women, in all domains assessed.Conclusion: High QOL scores in the physical, psychological and environmental domains may be reflective of the effectiveness of some of the interventions PLWHA are exposed to at the ARV clinic, UCH Ibadan (on-going psychotherapy, free antiretroviral drugs). Relatively low social domain scores may suggest ineffective social support networks, because PLWHA are still exposed to stigmatisation and discrimination. An improvement in social support for PLWHA, therefore, will improve their quality of life further.

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