OBJECTIVE: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) affords longevity to patients infected with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Since little is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons who have been on ART for at least five years, the present study investigated the HRQoL of these patients in Botswana. METHOD: Medical records, structured interviews, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQoL-HIV-BREF) instrument were employed to obtain information from 456 respondents. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that respondents' highest scores were in the "physical" domain (mean = 15.8, SD = 3.5), while the lowest scores were in the "environment" domain (mean = 12.9, SD = 2.5). Thus, the physical domain had the greatest impact on patients' overall HRQoL. Self-education about HIV-related issues was significantly correlated with all domains of HRQoL scores: physical (ρ = -2.32, CI 95% = -3.02, -1.61); psychological (ρ = -2.26, CI 95% = -2.87, -1.65); independence (ρ = -1.81, CI 95% = -2.54, -1.06); social relationships (ρ = -1.40, CI 95% = -2.13, -0.67); environment (ρ = -1.58, CI 95% = -2.13, -1.04); and spirituality (ρ = -1.70, CI 95% = -82.27, -1.13). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: HRQoL assessments can identify and address patients' needs, and it is important that guidelines be developed that will yield improved care to ART patients in Botswana.
OBJECTIVE: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) affords longevity to patients infected with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Since little is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons who have been on ART for at least five years, the present study investigated the HRQoL of these patients in Botswana. METHOD: Medical records, structured interviews, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQoL-HIV-BREF) instrument were employed to obtain information from 456 respondents. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that respondents' highest scores were in the "physical" domain (mean = 15.8, SD = 3.5), while the lowest scores were in the "environment" domain (mean = 12.9, SD = 2.5). Thus, the physical domain had the greatest impact on patients' overall HRQoL. Self-education about HIV-related issues was significantly correlated with all domains of HRQoL scores: physical (ρ = -2.32, CI 95% = -3.02, -1.61); psychological (ρ = -2.26, CI 95% = -2.87, -1.65); independence (ρ = -1.81, CI 95% = -2.54, -1.06); social relationships (ρ = -1.40, CI 95% = -2.13, -0.67); environment (ρ = -1.58, CI 95% = -2.13, -1.04); and spirituality (ρ = -1.70, CI 95% = -82.27, -1.13). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: HRQoL assessments can identify and address patients' needs, and it is important that guidelines be developed that will yield improved care to ART patients in Botswana.
Authors: Louise Schade Berg; James J Young; Deborah Kopansky-Giles; Stefan Eberspaecher; Geoff Outerbridge; Eric L Hurwitz; Jan Hartvigsen Journal: Curr Med Sci Date: 2022-01-28
Authors: Ying Zhang; Christine He; Tessa Peasgood; Emily S G Hulse; Christopher K Fairley; Graham Brown; Richard Ofori-Asenso; Jason J Ong Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2022-04 Impact factor: 5.396