Health-related quality of life and patient–provider relationships in HIV-infected patients during the first three years after starting PI-containing antiretroviral treatment

A model of contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship: a critical review using a systematic search strategy

BACKGROUND

The lack of trust between patients and physicians has a variety of negative consequences. There are several theories concerning how interpersonal trust is built, and different studies have investigated trust between patients and physicians that have identified single factors as contributors to trust. However, all possible contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship remain unclear. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding patient-physician trust and integrates contributors to trust into a model.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using the databases MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), and Eric (Ovid). We ran simultaneous searches for a combination of the phrases: patient-physician relationship (or synonyms) and trust or psychological safety. Six-hundred and twenty-five abstracts were identified and screened using pre-defined criteria and later underwent full-text article screening. We identified contributors to trust in the eligible articles and critically assessed whether they were modifiable.

RESULTS

Forty-five articles were included in the review. Patient-centered factors that contributed modifiable promoters of trust included psychological factors, levels of health education and literacy, and the social environment. Physician-centered factors that added to a trusting patient-physician relationship included competence, communication, interest in the patient, caring, the provisioning of health education, and professionalism. The patient-physician alliance, time spent together, and shared decision-making also contributed to trusting relationships between patients and physicians. External contributors included institutional factors, how payments are made, and additional healthcare services.

DISCUSSION

Our model summarized modifiable contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship. We found that providing sufficient time during patient-physician encounters, ensuring continuity of care, and fostering health education are promising starting points for improving trust between patients and physicians. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that address multiple modifiable contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship.

Satisfaction of antiretroviral therapy services and its associated factors among adult clients attending antiretroviral therapy in Woliso town, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Antiretroviral therapy client satisfaction is a significant tool that enables to strengthen the quality of life of the clients. The study aimed to assess the satisfaction of clients with antiretroviral therapy services and its associated factors among adult clients attending antiretroviral therapy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was undertaken from 28 August to 27 October 2022. Data were analyzed by using Logistic regression.

RESULT

Clients who did not attend formal education and attended health education information were significantly associated with satisfaction on antiretroviral therapy services.

CONCLUSION

HIV care services should introduce systematic health education programs to improve satisfaction with antiretroviral therapy services.

Restoring patient trust in healthcare: medical information impact case study in Poland

BACKGROUND

This study empirically evaluates the influence of medical information on patient trust at the physician level, the medical profession, hospitals, and with the payer. Restoring patient trust in a medical setting in Poland appears to be significantly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient trust improves results from medical treatment, raises perception of healthcare performance, and smoothens the overall functionality of healthcare systems.

METHODS

In order to study trust volatility, patients took part in a three-stage experiment designed via: (1) measured level of trust, (2) randomly dividing participants into two groups-control (i.e., re-examination of level of trust) and experimental (i.e., being exposed to a piece of certain manipulative information), and (3) checking whether observational changes were permanent.

RESULTS

Results indicate that in the experimental group the increase of trust was noticed in the payer (27.7%, p < 0.001), hospitals (10.9%, p = 0.011), and physicians (decrease of 9.2%, p = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

The study indicated that in Poland medical information is likely to influence patient trust in healthcare while interpersonal and social trust levels may be related to increases of trust in hospitals and in the payer versus decreases in physicians.

Testing a Question Prompt Intervention to Improve Communication between Patients with HIV and Healthcare Providers: A Pilot Study

We tested the feasibility and acceptability of a question prompt intervention for patients recently diagnosed with HIV using a single group pretest-posttest design. Three healthcare providers (HCPs) and 18 patients, enrolled by convenience sampling, participated. Patients chose questions from a list of 14 items about patients' adherence and health problems; then, they were provided with information. Communication time with nurses and number of questions significantly decreased, while health-related quality of life increased. The most frequently asked questions concerned medication adherence, sexual relationships, and the meaning of test results. The intervention facilitated communication with HCPs among patients.

Depression and aging with HIV: Associations with health-related quality of life and positive psychological factors

BACKGROUND

Depression is prevalent among persons living with HIV (PLWH). This study investigated the relationships between depressive symptomatology, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and positive psychological factors in PLWH and age-matched HIV-individuals.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-two PLWH and 94 HIV- individuals, recruited in three age cohorts (36-45, 46-55, 56-65 years old), completed self-report questionnaires on depressive symptoms (CES-D), HRQoL, and positive psychological factors (resilience, grit, and self-rated successful aging [SRSA]). Participants were classified based on HIV status (H+ vs H-) and elevated depressive symptoms (D+ vs D-) into four groups (H+/D+; H-/D+; H+/D-; H-/D-).

RESULTS

Fifty-eight percent of PLWH had elevated depressive scores, compared to 33% of HIV- individuals (p < 0.001). The proportion of individuals reporting elevated depressive symptoms only differed among individuals 36-45 years old (H+: 61.5%; H-: 17.9%; p < 0.001). Individuals in the H+/D+ group reported the lowest HRQoL, resilience, grit, and SRSA across age cohorts. However, there were no differences on HRQoL or positive psychological factors between H+/D- and H-/D- groups; in fact, individuals 56-65 years in the H+/D- group endorsed aging the most successfully.

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size within the groups and the cross-sectional nature of the analysis limit the ability to address onset of depressive symptoms in relation to HRQoL or positive psychological factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Among PLWH depressive symptoms show a strong association with HRQoL and positive psychological factors compared to HIV- individuals. In the absence of elevated depressive symptoms, however, PLWH report similar HRQoL and positive psychological factors to HIV- individuals.

Changes and determinants of health-related quality of life among people newly diagnosed with HIV in China: a 1-year follow-up study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people newly diagnosed with HIV and to identify factors associated with HRQoL.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals were consecutively recruited and assessed at baseline and 1-year follow-up after diagnosis. HRQoL was measured through the physical health summary score (PHS) and mental health summary score (MHS) derived from the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey. Socio-demographic, clinical, and psychological information was also collected at both times. Generalized estimating equations were applied to explore factors associated with HRQoL in 1 year.

RESULTS

A total of 410 participants were included. After 1 year, significant increases were observed for both the mean PHS score (53.5-55.0; p = 0.009) and the mean MHS score (44.2-49.0; p < 0.001). Older age (p = 0.024), rural household registration (p = 0.031), HIV-related symptoms (p < 0.001), and depression (p = 0.014) were negatively associated with PHS. Additionally, the negative association between stress and PHS increased over time (β = - 0.07 for the baseline; β = - 0.18 for the 12-month follow-up; p < 0.001). HIV-related symptoms, depression, lower social support, and higher levels of stress (all p < 0.001) were negatively associated with MHS. Additionally, the negative relationship between stress and MHS was stronger among participants who were asymptomatic (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

A relatively lower HRQoL among HIV-infected people shortly after HIV diagnosis and an increase in HRQoL among people 1 year after HIV diagnosis were observed. Additional attention should be paid to individuals of older age, from rural areas, with HIV-related symptoms, with depression, with high levels of stress, and with a lack of social support.

The role of the therapeutic alliance on pain relief in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: A systematic review

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the role of therapeutic alliance in pain relief in patients with musculoskeletal disorders treated by physiotherapy. Manual and database searches (Medline, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, PEDro, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO) were performed with no restrictions of language and publication date. We included prospective studies with samples of patients undergoing physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions, with one measure of therapeutic alliance and the outcome pain. Methodological quality was assessed by the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies and the Cochrane tool for risk of bias. Six articles from four studies were included out of the 936 manuscripts identified. All studies used samples composed of patients with chronic low back pain. Two studies applied therapeutic alliance incentive measures during treatment and reported significant improvement in pain. The remaining studies, without alliance incentives, showed divergence regarding the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and pain. Methodological quality analysis determined low risk of bias of the studies. A lack of studies on the therapeutic alliance regarding musculoskeletal physiotherapy was verified. Existing studies fail to provide evidence of a strong relationship between the therapeutic alliance and pain relief.

'Adolescents are reckless': Representations at stake in the construction of the relationship of trust in paediatric diabetology

A total of 10 focus groups were held with adolescents living with diabetes, their parents and health professionals in order to explore their needs in therapeutic education. The analysis showed that the relationship of trust was a central concern for a number of participants. Several adults were divided between a feeling of confidence inspired by the need to empower adolescents to cope with the chronic condition and a sense of distrust inspired by the idea of carelessness and irresponsibility thought to characterize adolescence. Adolescents, for their part, seemed relatively clear-sighted about how they can be perceived, and blamed adults for not trusting them. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the representations at stake in the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship in order to better understand the construction of the relational climate.

The ANRS-Ipergay trial, an opportunity to use qualitative research to understand the perception of the "participant"-physician relationship

The ANRS-IPERGAY trial consisted in providing sexual activity-based antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP) with a package of prevention tools (counselling, condoms, HIV and sexually transmitted infections' screening) to highly exposed HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM). Few data exist concerning the patient-physician relationship in the particular context of PrEP, where physicians discuss sexual behaviours with MSM who are not classic patients, in that consultation is for prevention purposes, not for illness. This study took place during the open-label extension of ANRS-IPERGAY trial when all participants received PrEP. In this qualitative study, we examined how physicians perceived their relationship with participants in the ANRS-IPERGAY trial. Of all 30 physicians involved in the trial who were contacted by email to participate in an interview about their opinions and perceptions of ANRS-IPERGAY 18 volunteered to participate in the current sub-study. We performed a vertical analysis for each interview to identify the extract in each physician's discourse concerning their relationship with MSM participants, and conducted a horizontal analysis to construct the thematic tree and subsequently investigate differences and similitudes between themes. An analysis of all physicians' discourses showed that the participant-physician relationship during the trial could be described through 4 themes: (i) personal experience of the relationship, (ii) trust and non-judgement, (iii) positive relational climate and (iv) influence of physician's characteristics (age, gender, etc.) on relationship. We found that the particular context of PrEP led some physicians to adopt a patient-as-partner approach during consultations rather than a paternalist or hierarchical approach. Indeed, the close follow-up provided by the trial and the active role of patients in their own prevention care trajectory, are more compatible with the patient-as-partner approach. The prescription of PrEP may lead to an evolution in patient-physician relationships and may even modify the professional identity of physicians.

Quality of Life of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Ho Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Quality of life (QoL) is an important component in the evaluation of the wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). This study was aimed at evaluating the QoL of PLHIV attending the antiretroviral clinics in the Ho municipality. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to April 2017 involving 158 purposively selected HIV-positive patients who were attending the antiretroviral clinics both in the Volta Regional Hospital and Ho Municipal Hospital. An Interviewer administered standard questionnaire (WHOQOL-HIV Bref) was used to collect information on sociodemography, medical history, and the quality of life (QoL) of the respondents. Among these 158 HIV-positive respondents, 126 (79.75) and 14 (8.86) presented with excellent and good overall QoL, respectively, whilst 18 (11.39) had their life negatively affected by HIV/AIDS. Religious/personal beliefs (19.62%) were the most affected QoL component, followed by the physical (15.82%) and level of independence (15.19%) domains. Patients' occupation, perception of health, sexual activity, and state of the disease were associated with poor overall QoL. In general, being an HIV-infected man, symptomatic patient, not being sexually active, or being ART naïve was also associated with poorer QoL in several HIV/AIDS QoL domains.

Health-related quality-of-life and receipt of women-centered HIV care among women living with HIV in Canada

We measured health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the SF-12 among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Canada between August 2013 and May 2015. We investigated differences by perceived receipt of women-centered HIV care (WCHC), assessed using an evidence-based definition with a 5-point Likert item: "Overall, I think that the care I have received from my HIV clinic in the last year has been women-centered" (dichotomized into agree vs. disagree/neutral). Of 1308 participants, 26.3 percent were from British Columbia, 48.2 percent from Ontario, and 25.5 percent from Québec. The median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 36-51). Most (42.2 percent) were White, 29.4 percent African/Caribbean/Black, and 21.0 percent Indigenous. Overall, 53.4 percent perceived having received WCHC. Mean physical and mental HRQOL scores were 43.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 14.4) and 41.7 (SD = 14.2), respectively. Women perceiving having received WCHC had higher mean physical (44.7; SD = 14.0) and mental (43.7; SD = 14.1) HRQOL scores than those not perceiving having received WCHC (42.9; SD = 14.8 and 39.5; SD = 14.0, respectively; p < .001). In multivariable linear regression, perceived WCHC was associated with higher mental (β = 3.48; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.90, 5.06) but not physical HRQOL. Improving HRQOL among Canadian WLWH, which was lower than general population estimates, is needed, including examining the potential of WCHC as an effective model of clinical care.

Understanding HIV-Related Stigma Among Women in the Southern United States: A Literature Review

Societal stigmatization of HIV/AIDS due to assumptions about transmission and associated behaviors plays a substantial role in the psychosocial well-being of people living with this chronic illness, particularly for women in traditionally conservative geographic regions. Known for social conservatism, the Southern United States (US) holds the highest incidence rate of HIV infection in the US. A systematic search of four databases was used to identify 27 relevant scientific articles pertaining to HIV-related stigma among women living with HIV/AIDS in the Southern US. These studies revealed a rudimentary understanding of stigma sources, effects, and stigma-reduction interventions in this population. Due to the cultural specificity of stigma, further differentiation of stigma in discrete sectors of the South as well as a dialogue about the moral implications of stigma is necessary to lay the groundwork for patient-centered interventions to mitigate the destructive effects of stigma experienced by women in this region.

Patient-Reported Outcomes After a Switch to a Single-Tablet Regimen of Rilpivirine, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir DF in HIV-1-Positive, Virologically Suppressed Individuals: Additional Findings From a Randomized, Open-Label, 48-Week Trial

Background

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can provide important information about treatment tolerability in HIV-1-infected patients.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate PROs following switching from a boosted protease inhibitor-based regimen to the single-tablet regimen (STR) of rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (RPV/FTC/TDF) in the 48-week open-label Switching Boosted PI to Rilpivirine in Combination with Truvada as a Single-Tablet Regimen (SPIRIT) trial.

Methods

In the open-label SPIRIT trial, patients were randomized to receive an STR of RPV/FTC/TDF (n = 317) for 48 weeks or stay on their baseline regimen of a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor and two nucleoside/nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (PI + RTV + 2NRTIs, n = 159) for 24 weeks before switching to RPV/FTC/TDF for another 24 weeks. PRO assessments included the HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ) and the HIV Symptom Index Questionnaire (SIQ).

Results

At week 24, the mean HIV TSQ improvement from baseline was significantly greater in the RPV/FTC/TDF group than the PI + RTV + 2NRTIs group (p < 0.001). On the HIV SIQ, the percentage of patients reporting a shift from ‘symptom’ to ‘no symptom’ was significantly greater with RPV/FTC/TDF treatment compared with PI + RTV + 2NRTIs for all items (all p ≤ 0.01), with total within-group occurrence of 13/20 symptoms significantly decreasing from baseline for RPV/FTC/TDF patients. In the delayed switch group, significantly fewer patients reported diarrhea and sleep problems at week 48 vs. week 24.

Conclusions

These data suggest that switching to the STR RPV/FTC/TDF from a PI-based multi-pill regimen is associated with greater patient-reported treatment satisfaction and improved tolerability in HIV-1-infected, virologically suppressed individuals.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40271-015-0123-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Persons Living With HIV/AIDS: Employment as a Social Determinant of Health

Purpose: For persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy has increased their longevity and quality of life. As HIV progresses, many PLWHA present declined domains of functioning that impede their ability to work. The authors explore employment as a social determinant of health to identify issues impacting employment outcomes for PLWHA.

Methods: The authors reviewed the literature addressing HIV across the domains of mental health functioning, neurocognitive functioning, and physical function and employment.

Results: When providing employment services to PLWHA, considerations for rehabilitation practitioners and educators include HIV/AIDS education, functional assessment, social support, considerations for women with HIV, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV/AIDS stigma, and employment resources for PLWHA.

Conclusion: With more than 1.2 million PLWHA in the United States, and most of new infections among persons 25–44 years of age, the prevalence of PLWHA seeking employment and inclusive of the U.S. workforce will continue to increase. Proving employment services for PLWHA is a complex process that is best served by an integrative service approach.

Assessing the role of masculinity in the transmission of HIV: a systematic review to inform HIV risk reduction counseling interventions for men who have sex with men

HIV affects over 1.2 million people in the United States; a substantial number are men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite an abundance of literature evaluating numerous social/structural and individual risk factors associated with HIV for this population, relatively little is known regarding the individual-level role of masculinity in community-level HIV transmission risk. To address this gap, the current analysis systematically reviewed the masculinity and HIV literature for MSM. The findings of 31 sources were included. Seven themes were identified: (1) number of partners, (2) attitudes toward condoms, (3) drug use, (4) sexual positioning, (5) condom decision-making, (6) attitudes toward testing, and (7) treatment compliance. These factors, representing the enactment of masculine norms, potentiate the spread of HIV. The current article aligns these factors into a masculinity model of community HIV transmission. Opportunities for counseling interventions include identifying how masculinity informs a client's cognitions, emotions, and behaviors as well as adapting gender-transformative interventions to help create new conceptualizations of masculinity for MSM clients. This approach could reduce community-level HIV incidence.

Improving Health-Related Quality of Life among People Living with HIV: Results from an Impact Evaluation of a Food Assistance Program in Uganda

Introduction

Widespread food insecurity in Africa continues to compromise an effective response to the AIDS epidemic. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a comprehensive indicator of physical, mental, and social well-being that is associated with food insecurity and increasingly used to assess the well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). We examined the impact of a food assistance intervention, previously shown to have reduced household food insecurity and improved nutritional status, on HRQoL of PLHIV.

Methods

We capitalized on an existing intervention targeting antiretroviral therapy (ART)- naïve PLHIV in Uganda, and conducted a prospective impact evaluation including a treatment and a comparison group. Data analyzed included 640 participants from two districts (318 in the intervention district) interviewed in both clinic and household settings at baseline and again approximately one year later. The main outcomes considered were physical and mental health dimensions of HRQoL, and other outcomes included self- and healthcare provider-reported symptoms. We utilized difference-in-difference propensity score matching methodologies to infer causality and examine program impacts.

Results

Over 12 months, food assistance significantly increased physical health scores (PHS) by 2.85 (P < .01) or approximately 0.35 SD, and reduced substantially the number of self- and healthcare provider-reported HIV-related symptoms by 3.83 and 2.68, respectively (P < .01). There was no significant impact, however, on mental health scores (MHS).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the potential importance for HRQoL of including food assistance programming as part of the standard of care for PLHIV in areas of widespread food insecurity.

Benefits of task-shifting HIV care to nurses in terms of health-related quality of life in patients initiating antiretroviral therapy in rural district hospitals in Cameroon [Stratall Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA (ANRS) 12110/Ensemble pour une Solidarité Thérapeutique Hospitalière en Réseau (ESTHER) substudy]

OBJECTIVES

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends task-shifting HIV care to nurses in low-resource settings with limited numbers of physicians. However, the effect of such task-shifting on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has seldom been evaluated. We aimed to investigate the effect of task-shifting HIV care to nurses on HRQL outcomes in PLHIV initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in rural district hospitals in Cameroon.

METHODS

Outcomes in PLHIV were longitudinally collected in the 2006-2010 Stratall trial. PLHIV were followed up for 24 months by nurses and/or physicians. Six HRQL dimensions were assessed during face-to-face interviews using the WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-HIV BREF scale: physical health; psychological health; independence level; social relationships; environment; and spirituality/religion/personal beliefs. The degree of task-shifting was estimated using a consultant ratio (i.e. the ratio of nurse-led to physician-led visits). The effect of task-shifting and other potential correlates on HRQL dimensions was explored using a Heckman two-stage approach based on linear mixed models to adjust for the potential bias caused by missing data in the outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 1424 visits in 440 PLHIV (70.5% female; median age 36 years; median CD4 count 188 cells/μL at enrolment), 423 (29.7%) were task-shifted to nurses. After multiple adjustment, task-shifting was associated with higher HRQL level for four dimensions: physical health [coefficient 0.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-1.2; P = 0.01], psychological health (coefficient 0.5; 95% CI 0.0-1.0; P = 0.05), independence level (coefficient 0.6; 95% CI 0.1-1.1; P = 0.01) and environment (coefficient 0.6; 95% CI 0.1-1.0; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Task-shifting HIV care to nurses benefits the HRQL of PLHIV. Together with the previously demonstrated comparable clinical effectiveness of physician-based and nurse-based models of HIV care, our results support the WHO recommendation for task-shifting.

Patient and provider perspectives on HIV and HIV-related stigma in Dutch health care settings

Ensuring that people living with HIV (PLWH) feel accepted in health care settings is imperative. This mixed methods study explored the perspectives of PLWH and health professionals on their interactions. A total of 262 predominantly gay men of Dutch origin participated in a survey study of possible negative interactions with health professionals, and semi-structured interviews were subsequently conducted with 22 PLWH and 14 health professionals. Again, most PLWH were gay men of Dutch origin. All health professionals were Dutch. PLWH reported negative experiences with health professionals including awkward interactions, irrelevant questions, rude treatment, blame, pity, excessive or differential precautions, care refusal, unnecessary referrals, delayed treatment, poor support, and confidentiality breaches. They also reported positive experiences including equal treatment, being valued as a partner in one's health, social support provision, and confidentiality assurances. Health professionals reported having little experience with PLWH and only basic knowledge of HIV. They contended that PLWH are treated equally and that HIV is no longer stigmatized, but also reported fear of occupational infection, resulting in differential precautions. Additionally, they conveyed labeling PLWH's files to warn others, and curiosity regarding how patients acquired HIV. The findings suggest that there is a gap in perception between PLWH and health professionals regarding the extent to which negative interactions occur, and that these interactions should be improved. Implications for stigma reduction and care optimization are discussed.

Higher quality of life and lower depression for people on ART in Uganda as compared to a community control group

Provision of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to people living with HIV (PLWH) has increased globally. Research measuring whether ART restores subjective well-being to "normal" levels is lacking, particularly in resource limited settings. The study objectives are to compare quality of life and depression symptoms for PLWH on ART to a general community population and to explore factors to explain these differences, including socio-economic status and the impact of urban or rural residence. PLWH on ART (n = 263) were recruited from ART delivery sites and participants not on ART (n = 160) were recruited from communities in Wakiso District, Uganda. Participants were interviewed using the translated World Health Organisation Quality of Life brief measure, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist depression section, and questions about socio-economic status, residence as urban or rural and, for PLWH on ART, self-reported adherence and use of HIV counselling. Compared to the community sample and controlling for location of residence, PLWH on ART had significantly higher quality of life (QOL) for physical, psychological and environment domains, but not the social domain. These differences were not due to socio-economic status alone. Depression scores were significantly lower for PLWH on ART. Both comparisons controlled for the effect of location of residence. People on ART self-reported high adherence and the majority had used HIV counselling services. Our findings show better QOL amongst PLWH on ART compared to a general community sample, which cannot be explained solely by differences in socio-economic status nor location of residence. The general community sample results point towards the challenges of life in this setting. Access to health services may underpin this difference and further research should explore this finding, in addition to identification of psychological mechanisms that relate to better QOL. ART provision infrastructure has clear benefits. Further work should consider sustainability and replication for other health conditions.

Socio-economic, behavioural, (neuro)psychological and clinical determinants of HRQoL in people living with HIV in Belgium: a pilot study

Introduction

Due to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-1 infection has evolved from a lethal to a chronic disease. As such, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become an important outcome variable. The purpose of this study was to identify socio-economic, behavioural, (neuro)psychological and clinical determinants of HRQoL among people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Methods

This study was conducted between 1 January and 31 December 2012 at the AIDS Reference Centre of Ghent University Hospital, a tertiary care referral centre in Belgium. Validated self-report questionnaires were administered to collect socio-demographic data, to assess HRQoL (Medical Outcomes Study-HIV), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II) and adherence to HAART (Short Medication Adherence Questionnaire) and to screen for neurocognitive dysfunction.

Results

A total of 237 people participated, among whom 187 (78.9%) were male. Mean age was 45.8±10.7 years and 144 (63.7%, 144/226) participants were homosexual. Median physical and mental health score (PHS, MHS) were 55.6 (IQR 48.2–60.6) and 52.0 (IQR 44.2–57.9), respectively. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that incapacity to work, depressive symptoms, neurocognitive complaints (NCCs), dissatisfaction with the patient–physician relationship and non-adherence were all negatively associated with HRQoL.

Conclusions

Socio-economic (work status), behavioural (adherence) and (neuro)psychological (depressive symptoms, NCCs) determinants independently impact HRQoL among this cohort of PLHIV. Clinical parameters (viral load, CD4 cell count) were not independently associated with HRQoL.

Engagement with Health Care Providers Affects Self- Efficacy, Self-Esteem, Medication Adherence and Quality of Life in People Living with HIV

The engagement of patients with their health care providers (HCP) improves patients' quality of life (QOL), adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and life satisfaction. Engagement with HCP includes access to HCP as needed, information sharing, involvement of client in decision making and self-care activities, respect and support of the HCP for the client's choices, and management of client concerns. This study compares country-level differences in patients' engagement with HCP and assesses statistical associations relative to adherence rates, self-efficacy, self-esteem, QOL, and symptom self-reporting by people living with HIV (PLHIV). A convenience sample of 2,182 PLHIV was enrolled in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Namibia, and China. Cross-sectional data were collected between September 2009 and January 2011. Inclusion criteria were being at least 18 years of age, diagnosed with HIV, able to provide informed consent, and able to communicate in the local language with site researchers. In the HCP scale, a low score indicated greater provider engagement. Country comparisons showed that PLHIV in Namibia had the most HCP engagement (OR 2.80, p < 0.001) and that PLHIV in China had the least engagement (OR -7.03, p < 0.0001) compared to the PLHIV in the Western countries. Individuals having better HCP engagement showed better self-efficacy for adherence (t = -5.22, p < 0.0001), missed fewer medication doses (t = 1.92, p ≤ 0.05), had lower self-esteem ratings (t = 2.67, p < 0.01), fewer self-reported symptoms (t = 3.25, p < 0.0001), and better overall QOL physical condition (t = -3.39, p < 0.001). This study suggests that promoting engagement with the HCP is necessary to facilitate skills that help PLHIV manage their HIV. To improve ART adherence, HCPs should work on strategies to enhance self-efficacy and self-esteem, therefore, exhibiting fewer HIV-related symptoms and missing less medication doses to achieve better QOL.

Assessing HIV and AIDS treatment safety and health-related quality of life among cohort of Malaysian patients: a discussion on methodological approach

BACKGROUND

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly recognized as an important outcome and as a complement to traditional biological end points of diseases such as mortality. Unless there is a complete cure available for HIV/AIDS, development and implementation of a reliable and valid cross cultural quality of life measure is necessary to assess not only the physical and medical needs of HIV/AIDS people, but their psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual areas of life.

METHODS

A qualitative exploration of HIV/AIDS patients' understanding, perceptions and expectations will be carried out with the help of semi structured interview guide by in depth interviews, while quantitative assessment of patient reported adverse drug reactions and their impact on health related quality of life will be carried out by using data collection tool comprising patient demographics, SF-12, Naranjo scale, and a clinical data sheet.

RESULTS/OUTCOMES

The findings may serve as baseline QOL data of people living with HIV/AIDS in Malaysia and also a source data to aid construction of management plan to improve HIV/AIDS patients' QOL. It will also provide basic information about HIV/AIDS patients' perceptions, expectations and believes towards HIV/AIDS and its treatment which may help in designing strategies to enhance patients' awareness which in turn can help in addressing issues related to compliance and adherence.

Patient-reported use of collaborative goal setting and glycemic control among patients with diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about how patient-clinician communication leads to better outcomes. Among patients with diabetes, we describe patient-reported use of collaborative goal setting and evaluate whether perceived competency and physician trust mediate the association between collaborative goal setting and glycemic control.

METHODS

Data from a patient survey administered in 2008 to a cohort of insured patients aged 18+ years with diabetes who initiated oral mono-therapy between 2000 and 2005 were joined with pharmaceutical claims data for the prior 12 months and laboratory data for the prior and subsequent 12 months (N=1065). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to test mediation models controlling for baseline HbA1c.

RESULTS

The hypothesized mediation model was supported. Patient-reported use of more collaborative goal setting was associated with greater perceived self-management competency and increased level of trust in the physician (p<0.05). In turn, both greater perceived competence and increased trust were associated with increased control (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that engaging patients in collaborative goal setting during clinical encounters has potential to foster a trusting patient-clinician relationship as well as enhance patient perceived competence, thereby improving clinical control.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Fostering collaborative goal setting may yield payoffs in improved clinical outcomes among patients with diabetes.

The therapeutic alliance between clinicians and patients predicts outcome in chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND

The impact of the relationship (therapeutic alliance) between patients and physical therapists on treatment outcome in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) has not been previously investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the therapeutic alliance between physical therapists and patients with chronic LBP predicts clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective observational study nested within a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-two patients with chronic LBP who volunteered for a randomized controlled trial that compared the efficacy of exercises and spinal manipulative therapy rated their alliance with physical therapists by completing the Working Alliance Inventory at the second treatment session. The primary outcomes of function, global perceived effect of treatment, pain, and disability were assessed before and after 8 weeks of treatment. Linear regression models were used to investigate whether the alliance was a predictor of outcome or moderated the effect of treatment.

RESULTS

The therapeutic alliance was consistently a predictor of outcome for all the measures of treatment outcome. The therapeutic alliance moderated the effect of treatment on global perceived effect for 2 of 3 treatment contrasts (general exercise versus motor control exercise, spinal manipulative therapy versus motor control exercise). There was no treatment effect modification when outcome was measured with function, pain, and disability measures.

LIMITATIONS

Therapeutic alliance was measured at the second treatment session, which might have biased the interaction during initial stages of treatment. Data analysis was restricted to primary outcomes at 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive therapeutic alliance ratings between physical therapists and patients are associated with improvements of outcomes in LBP. Future research should investigate the factors explaining this relationship and the impact of training interventions aimed at optimizing the alliance.

Patient-provider relationship predicts mental and physical health indicators for HIV-positive men who have sex with men

We used secondary data analysis to examine associations among aspects of patient-provider relationships and mental and physical health indicators. Positive patient perceptions of patient-provider relationships were associated with fewer mental health symptoms in this outpatient sample of HIV-positive men who have sex with men (N = 171). Regression analyses revealed the role of anxiety and depression in explaining associations between two aspects of patient-provider relationships (i.e. quality of information offered and provider interactional style) and health-related quality of life. The findings demonstrated the importance of patient-provider relationships to improving physical health and functioning and maintaining engagement in care, among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

HIV/AIDS patients' medical and psychosocial needs in the era of HAART: a cross-sectional study among HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART in Yunnan, China

Since the launch of China's Free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Program in 2002, more than 100,000 HIV/AIDS patients have been treated with highly actively antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, the current evaluation system for this program mainly focused on its medical outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the medical and psychosocial needs of HIV/AIDS patients after initiating HAART. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 499 HIV/AIDS patients who were currently being treated with HAART in three designated hospitals in Luxi City, Yunnan Province. A questionnaire was used to collect information about participants' demographic characteristics, perceived HIV-related stigma, physician-patient relationship, quality of life, family functioning, etc. Patients' medical records in the National HIV Information System were linked with their questionnaire by their ART identification number. Patients on HAART who were infected with HIV through injection drug use and were current smokers typically had poorer physical health than other participants on HAART. Better financial status and better physician-patient relationship were associated with both physical and psychological well-being. Family awareness of the patient's HIV status was negatively associated with the patient's psychological well-being. Higher levels of perceived HIV-related stigma were associated with poorer psychological health and poorer family functioning. This study emphasizes the importance of assuring a caring environment in China's AIDS treatment program and re-enforces the need to combat the stigma encountered with health providers and the public.

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

The development of antiretroviral drugs has significantly changed the perception of HIV/AIDS from a very fatal to a chronic and potentially manageable disease, and the availability and administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly reduced mortality and morbidity associated with HIV and AIDS. There is a relationship between ART and quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS, and several studies have reported a strong positive association between ART and improved quality of life in different domains among people living with HIV and AIDS in both developed and developing countries. However, a few studies have reported on the negative effects of ART, which directly or indirectly relate to the quality of life and longevity of HIV-infected persons. In this review, the effects and benefits of ART on people living with HIV and AIDS based on studies done in developed and developing countries is examined.

HIV-infected women's relationships with their health care providers in the rural deep south: an exploratory study

Through this qualitative study we explored the patient/provider relationships of rural HIV-infected women. Thirty-nine women from rural Alabama were recruited to participate in one of four focus groups. The focus groups were audiorecorded, and the participants were asked to complete surveys measuring patient/provider trust. The verbatim-transcribed audio recordings were analyzed using content analysis. The participants' descriptions of their relationships with health care providers were represented by three major thematic categories: caring, informative, and competent. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the role of patient/provider relationships in the health outcomes of HIV disease in rural, resource-poor settings.

How much does trust really matter? A study of the longitudinal effects of trust and decision-making preferences on diabetic patient outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of trust on patient outcomes (satisfaction, HbA(1C), physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL)) and to investigate the role of decision-making preferences in the trust-outcome relationship.

METHODS

We conducted a one-year longitudinal analysis of 614 type 2 diabetic patients (mean age: 59.3 years; mean disease duration: 6.7 years). Patients' self-administered questionnaires and medical record were used for the research. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship among variables during a 12-month follow-up. Further, we used latent growth modeling (LGM) to assess changes in health outcomes and to examine how these changes were related to trust.

RESULTS

Regression analyses revealed that trust was positively related to glycemic control, physical HRQoL, and satisfaction at 12 months. Patients with higher decision-making preferences experienced a greater increase in subsequent satisfaction. The results of LGM showed that higher levels of trust were associated with greater increases in physical HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Trust contributes to improvements in health outcomes. The relationship between trust and satisfaction may be stronger among patients with higher decision-making preferences.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

For healthcare providers, efforts should be made to cultivate patients' trust and enhance their decision-making preferences to maximize satisfaction and improve outcomes.

Validation study of a scale of life quality evaluation in a group of pediatric patients infected by HIV

With the advent of potent antiretroviral therapy and the increase in life expectancy of pediatric patients infected with HIV, the quest for the promotion of enhanced quality of life should currently be the main focus in care of children with HIV/Aids. The scope of this study was to validate the Scale of Children's Quality of Life in a group of children infected with HIV receiving clinical care in Aids Service Units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This scale consists of 26 questions and was tested on 100 children, with ages varying between 4 and 12, and their respective parents or guardians. Statistical analysis was conducted using canonical correlation and confidence interval analysis and the X² test. The results showed that the cut-off point obtained was 49; the internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 for the children and 0.67 for parents or guardians. The response profile revealed marked satisfaction with aspects such as vacations and birthdays, though less satisfaction with items including hospitalization and playing alone. The conclusion was that the scale revealed satisfactory psychometric measurements, proving to be a reliable, consistent, valid and recommended instrument for measuring the quality of life of children infected with HIV.

Satisfaction with care in HIV-infected patients treated with long-term follow-up antiretroviral therapy: the role of social vulnerability

The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with complete satisfaction with the care provided (satisfaction with physicians and satisfaction with services and organization) among HIV-infected patients followed up in the French ANRS CO8 APROCO-COPILOTE cohort. Analyses focused on cross-sectional data collected during the ninth year of cohort follow-up. Satisfaction with care, sociodemographic characteristics, and behavioral data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, while clinical data were derived from medical records. Complete satisfaction with care was defined as being 100% satisfied. Two logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of (1) complete satisfaction with physicians (n=404) and (2) complete satisfaction with services and organization (n=396). Sixteen percent of patients were completely satisfied with physicians, while 15.9% were completely satisfied with services and organization. Being older and reporting fewer discomforting antiretroviral therapy (ART) side effects were factors independently associated with complete satisfaction with both physicians and services and organization. Strong support from friends and absence of hepatitis C (HCV) co-infection were independently associated with complete satisfaction with physicians, while strong support from one's family and comfortable housing conditions were independently associated with complete satisfaction with services and organization. Even after nine years of follow-up, social vulnerabilities still strongly influence HIV-infected patients' interactions with the health care system. Day-to-day experience with the disease, including perceived treatment side effects, appears to play a key role in the quality of these interactions. More attention should be given to patient satisfaction, especially for socially vulnerable patients, in order to avoid potentially detrimental consequences such as poor adherence to ART.

The associations among coping, nadir CD4+ T-cell count, and non-HIV-related variables with health-related quality of life among an ambulatory HIV-positive patient population

PURPOSE

We investigated HRQoL among HIV-positive outpatients from October, 2006-December, 2007, incorporating medical chart review, and a survey of coping styles.

METHODS

Consented HIV-positive patients receiving medical care at University of Colorado Denver, with HAART as first antiretroviral regimen, completed the MOS-HIV and Brief COPE survey instruments. Linear regression identified a priori factors hypothesized to be associated with the MOS-HIV composite mental and physical health scores (MHS, PHS). Brief COPE survey maladaptive and adaptive coping components were added to the models and retained if significant.

RESULTS

Among the 157 patient cohort, parsimonious multivariable linear regression models (P < 0.05) indicated higher nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and adaptive coping were associated with a higher MHS; public/no insurance, mental illness, current number of non-HIV medications, and maladaptive coping were inversely associated with MHS. Nadir CD4+ T-cell count and efavirenz use were associated with a higher PHS; mental illness, current number of non-HIV mediations, and maladaptive coping were inversely associated with PHS.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors independently associated with lower MHS and lower PHS include lower nadir CD4+ T-cell counts, and use of maladaptive coping. Efforts to reduce use of maladaptive coping strategies and earlier identification and treatment of HIV may improve HRQoL in HIV-positive patients.

A study of patient attitudes towards decentralisation of HIV care in an urban clinic in South Africa

Background

In South Africa, limited human resources are a major constraint to achieving universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage. Many of the public-sector HIV clinics operating within tertiary facilities, that were the first to provide ART in the country, have reached maximum patient capacity. Decentralization or "down-referral" (wherein ART patients deemed stable on therapy are referred to their closest Primary Health Clinics (PHCs) for treatment follow-up) is being used as a possible alternative of ART delivery care. This cross-sectional qualitative study investigates attitudes towards down-referral of ART delivery care among patients currently receiving care in a centralized tertiary HIV clinic.

Methods

Ten focus group discussions (FGDs) with 76 participants were conducted in early 2008 amongst ART patients initiated and receiving care for more than 3 months in the tertiary HIV clinic study site. Eligible individuals were invited to participate in FGDs involving 6-9 participants, and lasting approximately 1-2 hours. A trained moderator used a discussion topic guide to investigate the main issues of interest including: advantages and disadvantages of down-referral, potential motivating factors and challenges of down-referral, assistance needs from the transferring clinic as well as from PHCs.

Results

Advantages include closeness to patients' homes, transport and time savings. However, patients favour a centralized service for the following reasons: less stigma, patients established relationship with the centralized clinic, and availability of ancillary services. Most FGDs felt that for down-referral to occur there needed to be training of nurses in patient-provider communication.

Conclusion

Despite acknowledging the down-referral advantages of close proximity and lower transport costs, many participants expressed concerns about lack of trained HIV clinical staff, negative patient interactions with nurses, limited confidentiality and stigma. There was consensus that training of nurses and improved health systems at the local clinics were needed if successful down-referral was to take place.

Effect of Treatment Interruption and Intensification of Antiretroviral Therapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced HIV

Background. The effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption or intensification on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in advanced HIV patients is unknown. Objective. To assess the impact of temporary treatment interruption and intensification of ART on HRQoL. Design. A 2 x 2 factorial open label randomized controlled trial. Setting. Hospitals in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Patients. Multidrug resistant (MDR) HIV patients. Intervention. Patients were randomized to receive a 12-wk interruption or not, and ART intensification or standard ART. Measurements. The Health Utilities Index (HUI3), EQ-5D, standard gamble (SG), time tradeoff (TTO), visual analog scale (VAS), and the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV). Results. There were no significant differences in HRQoL among the four groups during follow-up; however, there was a temporary significant decline in HRQoL on some measures within the interruption group during interruption (HUI3 −0.05, P = 0.03; VAS −5.9, P = 0.002; physical health summary −2.9, P = 0.001; mental health summary −1.9, P = 0.02). Scores declined slightly overall during follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed significantly lower HRQoL associated with some clinical events. Limitations. The results may not apply to HIV patients who have not experienced multiple treatment failures or who have not developed MDR HIV. Conclusions. Temporary ART interruption and ART intensification provided neither superior nor inferior HRQoL compared with no interruption and standard ART. Among surviving patients, HRQoL scores declined only slightly over years of follow-up in this advanced HIV cohort; however, approximately one-third of patients died during the trial follow up. Lower HRQoL was associated with adverse clinical events.

The influence of the therapist-patient relationship on treatment outcome in physical rehabilitation: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The working alliance, or collaborative bond, between client and psychotherapist has been found to be related to outcome in psychotherapy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the working alliance is related to outcome in physical rehabilitation settings.

DATA SOURCES

A sensitive search of 6 databases identified a total of 1,600 titles.

STUDY SELECTION

Prospective studies of patients undergoing physical rehabilitation were selected for this systematic review.

DATA EXTRACTION

For each included study, descriptive data regarding participants, interventions, and measures of alliance and outcome-as well as correlation data for alliance and outcomes-were extracted.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirteen studies including patients with brain injury, musculoskeletal conditions, cardiac conditions, or multiple pathologies were retrieved. Various outcomes were measured, including pain, disability, quality of life, depression, adherence, and satisfaction with treatment. The alliance was most commonly measured with the Working Alliance Inventory, which was rated by both patient and therapist during the third or fourth treatment session. The results indicate that the alliance is positively associated with: (1) treatment adherence in patients with brain injury and patients with multiple pathologies seeking physical therapy, (2) depressive symptoms in patients with cardiac conditions and those with brain injury, (3) treatment satisfaction in patients with musculoskeletal conditions, and (4) physical function in geriatric patients and those with chronic low back pain.

LIMITATIONS

Among homogenous studies, there were insufficient reported data to allow pooling of results.

CONCLUSIONS

From this review, the alliance between therapist and patient appears to have a positive effect on treatment outcome in physical rehabilitation settings; however, more research is needed to determine the strength of this association.

Improvements in physical wellbeing over the first two years on antiretroviral therapy in western Kenya

Improvements in physical wellbeing during the first six months on antiretroviral therapy (ART) are well known, but little is known regarding long-term follow-up. We conducted a prospective cohort study among 222 HIV-positive adult tea plantation workers in western Kenya to assess wellbeing over their first two years on ART. Study subjects completed a standardized questionnaire during repeat ART clinic visits. A 30-day recall period was used to elicit the number of days when subjects experienced poor health and the number of days that pain made it difficult to complete usual activities at home and work. A seven-day recall period was used to assess the severity of bodily pain, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Prevalence of most symptoms declined over time. A median of seven days poor health during the first month on ART declined to three days in the 24th month (p=0.043). For pain making usual activities difficult, a median of seven days during the first month on ART fell to zero by 12 months (p< or =0.0001) but increased to three days by two years. Any bodily pain (range 59-83%) and fatigue (range 51-84%) over the past seven days were common through two years. However, pain and fatigue often over the past seven days declined over two years (from 24-10% (p=0.067) and 41-15% (p=0.002)). Skin rash was rare at all times, though higher at two years (8.6%) than any other time. Initial improvements in physical wellbeing were sustained over two years, however, increased pain and skin rash at year two may indicate problems as treatment programs mature. These improvements in physical wellbeing will be important in sustaining the long-term success of HIV treatment programs.

State of the ART: clinical efficacy and improved quality of life in the public antiretroviral therapy program, Free State province, South Africa

The South African public-sector antiretroviral treatment (ART) program has yielded promising early results. To extend and reinforce these preliminary findings, we undertook a detailed assessment of the clinical efficacy and outcomes over two years of ART. The primary objective was to assess the clinical outcomes and adverse effects of two years of ART, while identifying the possible effects of baseline health and patient characteristics. A secondary objective was to address the interplay between positive and negative outcomes (clinical benefits versus adverse effects) in terms of the patients' physical and emotional quality of life (QoL). Clinical outcome, baseline characteristics, health status, and physical and emotional QoL scores were determined from clinical files and interviews with 268 patients enrolled in the Free State ART program at three time points (6, 12, and 24 months of ART). Age, sex, education, and baseline health (CD4 cell count and viral load) were all independently associated with the ART outcome in the early stages of treatment, but their impact diminished as the treatment progressed. The number of patients classified as treatment successes increased over the first two years of ART, whereas the proportion of patients experiencing adverse effects diminished. Importantly, our findings show that ART had strong and stable positive effects on physical and emotional QoL. These favorable results demonstrate that a well-managed public-sector ART program can be very successful within a high-HIV-prevalence resource-limited setting. This finding emphasizes the need to adopt treatment scale-up as a key policy priority, while at the same time ensuring that the highest standards of healthcare provision are maintained. Healthcare services should also target vulnerable groups (males, less-educated patients, those with low baseline CD4 cell counts, and high baseline viral loads) who are most likely to experience treatment failure.

[Treatment of HIV marginalized patients: an approach to documenting medical and psychosocial appointments of patients with problematic drug use]

OBJECTIVE

To document compliance with medical and psychosocial appointments for HIV/AIDS treatment in a population of marginalized individuals with problematic drug use.

METHOD

This is a retrospective study exploring appointment compliance for an HIV treatment based on an outreach intervention. Information regarding the medical and psychosocial appointments of 185 patients of the HIV-Drug Addiction outpatient unit, at the University of Montreal Hospital Centre (CHUM), has been collected for a one-year period (2006-2007). The compliance rate of appointments has been calculated according to the type of care provided: 1) conventional, provided only in the clinic at the "fixed" location, and 2) outreach-based, when the team at the fixed location is complemented by the intervention of a "mobile" team for the more unstable patients.

RESULTS

Compliance rates for medical and psychosocial appointments in patients receiving care solely at the fixed location is 61.4%. For those whom care is received at the fixed location while complemented by the mobile team, the corresponding rate is 73.9%. This is an elevated compliance rate, higher than those generally reported for outreach-based programs.

CONCLUSION

These results lend support to the success of programs integrating an outreach-based intervention for a vulnerable clientele. Indeed, appointment compliance in those who are more disorganized, for which the mobile team has intervened, has proven comparable and even superior to compliance with appointments when treatment is only received at the fixed location.

Physical and emotional health outcomes after 12 months of public-sector antiretroviral treatment in the Free State Province of South Africa: a longitudinal study using structural equation modelling

Background

African and Asian cohort studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in resource-limited settings. However, reports of the long-term changes in the physical and emotional quality of life (QoL) of patients on ART in these settings are still scarce. In this study, we assessed the physical and emotional QoL after six and 12 months of ART of a sample of 268 patients enrolled in South Africa's public-sector ART programme. The study also tested the impact of the adverse effects of medication on patients' physical and emotional QoL.

Methods

A stratified random sample of 268 patients undergoing ART was interviewed at baseline (< 6 months ART) and follow-up (< 12 months ART). A model of the relationships between the duration of ART, the adverse effects of medication, and physical and emotional QoL (measured using EUROQOL-5D) was tested using structural equation modelling.

Results

The improved physical and emotional QoL shown at baseline was sustained over the 12-month study period, because treatment duration was not significantly associated with changes in the patients' QoL. Physical QoL significantly and positively influenced the patients' emotional QoL (subjective well-being [SWB]) (β = 0.33, P < 0.01). Longitudinal data showed that patients reported significantly fewer adverse effects at follow-up than at baseline (β = -0.38, P < 0.001) and that these adverse effects negatively influenced physical (β = -0.27, P < 0.01) and emotional QoL (β = -0.15, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that the South African public-sector ART programme is effective in delivering sustained improvement in patient well-being. However, the results should encourage clinicians and lay health workers to be vigilant regarding the adverse effects of treatment, because they can seriously affect physical and emotional QoL.

The effects of trust in physician on self-efficacy, adherence and diabetes outcomes

Trust in physicians has been associated with a range of patient behaviors. However, previous research has not focused on the mechanisms by which trust affects health outcomes and mostly has made use of self-rated health. This study tested a theoretical model of variables influencing the relations of trust to both objective and self-rated health. We hypothesized that patients who trust their physicians more were likely to have stronger self-efficacy and outcome expectations. We expected this, in turn, to be associated with better treatment adherence and objective health outcomes. In addition, we hypothesized that highly trusting patients would be more likely to report better health status through enhanced self-efficacy. Data for this research came from a sample of 480 adult patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan. Patients completed measures of trust, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, adherence, and the SF-12 health survey. Objective outcomes, including body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, and diabetes-related complications, were assessed by follow-up chart review. The structural equation analyses which were implemented by LISREL VIII resulted in a proper solution that exhibited adequate fit. All hypothesized paths were statistically significant and in the predicted directions. The mediation roles of self-efficacy and outcome expectations were further confirmed by the results of structural equation modeling and bootstrap analyses. In the multivariate regression, although the relations of patient trust to blood lipid and self-rated health were confirmed, the direct link of trust to glycosylated hemoglobin was only significant in the bivariate model. This study clarifies the association of trust with different types of health outcomes and provides the empirical evidence that trust in physicians is associated with both self-rated health and therapeutic response. However, a more longitudinal study design is necessary to precisely determine both the strength and causality of these relationships.

Changing roles and responses of health care workers in HIV treatment and care

A key limiting factor in the scale up and sustainability of HIV care and treatment programmes is the global shortage of trained health care workers. This paper discusses why it is important to move beyond conceptualising health care workers simply as 'inputs' in the delivery of HIV treatment and care, and to also consider their roles as partners and agents in the process of health care. It suggests a framework for thinking about their roles and responses in HIV care, considers the current evidence base, and concludes by identifying key areas for future research on health care workers' responses in HIV treatment and care in low and middle income settings.

Trust but verify: the interactive effects of trust and autonomy preferences on health outcomes

Patients' trust in their physicians improves their health outcomes because of better compliance, more disclosure, stronger placebo effect, and more physicians' trustworthy behaviors. Patients' autonomy may also impact on health outcomes and is increasingly being emphasized in health care. However, despite the critical role of trust and autonomy, patients that naïvely trust their physicians may become overly dependent and lack the motivation to participate in medical care. In this article, we argue that increased trust does not necessarily imply decreased autonomy. Furthermore, patients with high levels of trust and autonomy preferences are most likely to have the best health outcomes. We propose a framework for understanding simultaneous trust and autonomy preferences and for recognizing their interactive effects on health outcomes in the dynamic medical encounter. This framework argues that policy makers and health care providers should make efforts to foster not only patients' trust but also their preferences for autonomy and thus gain the best position for achieving health-related goals.

Quality of life among HIV-infected patients in Brazil after initiation of treatment

INTRODUCTION

Despite improvement in clinical treatment for HIV-infected patients, the impact of antiretroviral therapy on the overall quality of life has become a major concern.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with increased levels of self-reported quality of life among HIV-infected patients after four months of antiretroviral therapy.

METHODS

Patients were recruited at two public health referral centers for AIDS, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, for a prospective adherence study. Patients were interviewed before initiating treatment (baseline) and after one and four months. Quality of life was assessed using a psychometric instrument, and factors associated with good/very good quality of life four months after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy were assessed using a cross-sectional approach. Logistic regression was used for analysis.

RESULTS

Overall quality of life was classified as 'very good/good' by 66.4% of the participants four months after initiating treatment, while 33.6% classified it as 'neither poor nor good/poor/very poor'. Logistic regression indicated that >8 years of education, none/mild symptoms of anxiety and depression, no antiretroviral switch, lower number of adverse reactions and better quality of life at baseline were independently associated with good/very good quality of life over four months of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the importance of modifiable factors such as psychiatric symptoms and treatment-related variables that may contribute to a better quality of life among patients initiating treatment. Considering that poor quality of life is related to non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy, careful clinical monitoring of these factors may contribute to ensuring the long-term effectiveness of antiretroviral regimens.

[Relationship between physicians and HIV patients: influence on adherence and quality of life]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the influence of the relationship between people living with HIV/AIDS and health care providers on treatment adherence and quality of life.

METHODS

Qualitative study conducted in Mexico, in 2003, with informants recruited from HIV/AIDS support groups, non-governmental organizations, and infectious disease clinics in public hospitals. A total of 40 people living with HIV/AIDS and five support group leaders were interviewed. Data were collected using sociodemographic questionnaires and in-depth interviews exploring the experience of living with HIV/AIDS, including treatment, disease perception, quality of life, physical and emotional health, and relationship with physicians. Responses were recorded, transcribed and organized thematically based on codes using an inductive analysis.

RESULTS

Most respondents aged between 26 and 45 years. The main obstacles to care were related to lack of risk awareness and information among people living with HIV/AIDS and physicians. Physicians proved not to be well trained on HIV/AIDS care. During the follow-up care, most problems were related to inadequate treatment adherence mainly caused by poor communication with physicians and discrimination in public services.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall the problems identified were related to information deficiencies, physicians' lack of training and paternalism, and social stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS associated with the epidemic.

Effect of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Monotherapy on Quality of Life and Self-Reported Symptoms among Antiretroviral-Naive Patients: Results of the MONARK Trial

Background

Standard-of-care for HIV-infected patients consists of combining three antiretroviral drugs. However, other therapeutic strategies could be beneficial given long-term toxicity and quality of life (QOL) issues associated with taking multiple antiretroviral drugs for many years. In the prospective, open label, randomized, pilot monotherapy antiretroviral Kaletra® (MONARK) trial among antiretroviral-naive patients, lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) monotherapy was found to be less suppressive for HIV RNA than a standard triple-drug therapy of LPV/r plus zidovudine/lamivudine (on-treatment analysis after 48 weeks). We present data from the MONARK trial concerning QOL and patient-reported symptoms.

Methods

Patient-reported symptoms were collected at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, 24 and 48 using a list of 22 symptoms. QOL was assessed at baseline, week 24 and week 48 using the six-domain World Health Organization QOL short form questionnaire for HIV-infected individuals including an evaluation of global health perception.

Results

Patients treated with the standard triple-drug therapy reported significantly more symptoms over 48 weeks of treatment than patients treated with LPV/r monotherapy (incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.3 [1.1, 1.6] P=0.001 and 1.4 [1.2, 1.7] P=0.0004 for the total number of symptoms and the number of symptoms causing discomfort, respectively). No baseline differences and no significant changes were observed in the six QOL scores. The percentage of patients with a positive perception of their global health status increased significantly in the monotherapy arm from 32% at baseline to 67% at week 48 ( P<0.0001).

Conclusions

These results suggest that the number of self-reported symptoms could be used as a treatment-sensitive measure of patients’ well-being in clinical trials.

How do subjectively-constructed meanings ascribed to anti-HIV treatments affect treatment-adherent practice?

Anti-HIV treatment-adherent practice is a significant issue in HIV medical discourses on effective disease treatment and management. Findings from research studies into treatment (non)adherence have positioned the act as a medical issue that could be remedied by behavioral strategies. The present study, conducted in Sydney, Australia, aims to examine treatment-(non)adherent practice as a subjective expression of meanings ascribed to treatments by employing a narrative analytical approach informed by poststructuralist epistemology. The findings indicate that people with HIV negotiate and position treatments in particular ways that lead to multiple and varied understanding of treatments. The ways treatments are positioned in their everyday lives suggest that meanings ascribed to treatments impact on the way individuals negotiate demands embedded in the medically-constructed practice of adherence.