Quality of life and adherence to antiretroviral medication in people with HIV

A cross-sectional study was performed with 45 outpatients with HIV. The instruments used were: a questionnaire to assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy (CEAT- HIV), and a scale for assessing quality of life in people with HIV (HAT-QoL). A descriptive analysis was performed and the Spearman’s linear correlation test was used.

Results

Quality of life was compromised in the dimensions related to overall function; sexual function; health, disclosure and financial worries; and HIV mastery. Poor adherence prevailed in 51.3% of participants. The correlation between the scores of the scales was statistically significant in the dimensions of medication concerns and provider trust.

Conclusion

The quality of life was compromised in six dimensions of the scale and adherence scale was inadequate in most people with HIV.

Nursing care; Medication adherence; HIV; HIV infections; Quality of life

Characteristic	n(%)
Age group (years)
18-39	28(62.3)
≥40	17(37.7)
Gender
Male	30(66.6)
Female	15(33.4)
Education (years)
≤9	12(26.7)
≥10	33(73.3)
Marital status
Married/ common law	12(26.7)
Single/widow(er)	33(73.3)
Family income (minimum wages*)
≤2	28(62.2)
>2	17(37.8)
Occupational status
Employed	30(66.6)
Unemployed	15(33.4)
Category of exposure
Sexual	40(88.9)
Blood	5(11.1)
Number of pills a day
≤3	35(77.8)
≥4	10(22.2)
CD4⁺ (cell/mm³)
≤500	22(48.9)
>500	23(51.1)

Dimensions	Items	n	Mean (± SD)	P50	Maximun	Minimun	P25	P75	P75-P25
Overall function	7	45	70,9(±22.7)	75.0	100	7.1	53.6	89.3	35.7
Sexual function	3	45	68,1(±22.8)	62.7	100	0.0	58.3	83.3	25.0
Disclosure worries	5	45	38,8(±26.3)	35.0	100	0.0	20.0	55.0	35.0
Health worries	5	45	62,7(±26.0)	65.0	100	5.0	45.0	85.0	40.0
Financial worries	4	45	55,3(±29.6)	56.3	100	0.0	31.3	75.0	43.8
HIV mastery	3	45	71,1(±23.1)	75.0	100	16.7	40.0	91.7	41.7
Life satisfaction	8	45	79,1(±21.9)	81.3	100	0.0	68.8	93.8	25.0
Medication concerns	4	39	79,8(±20.0)	87.5	100	37.5	68.8	100	31.2
Provider trust	3	45	91,3(±17.4)	100.0	100	0	83.3	100	16.7

HAT-QoL Dimensions	Correlation with CEAT-VIH* scoring
Overall function	(r=0.0680; p=0.6808)
Sexual function	(r=-0.0106; p=0.9490)
Disclosure worries	(r=-0.1420; p=0.3884)
Health worries	(r=-0.1953; p=0.2335)
Financial worries	(r=0.1518; p=0.3562)
HIV mastery	(r=-0.0235; p=0.8869)
Life satisfaction	(r=0.2869; p=0.0766)
Medication concerns	(r=0.4354; p=0.0056)
Provider trust	(r=0.3523; p=0.0278)

Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo R. Napoleão de Barros, 754, 04024-002 São Paulo - SP/Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 5576 4430 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actapaulista@unifesp.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Corresponding author: Larissa de Araújo Lemos. Alexandre Baraúna street, 1115, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Zip Code: 60430-160.. lariss_araujo@hotmail.com