Treatment adherence predicts health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Substantial literature exists on psychosocial other variables impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) but less attention has been given to treatment adherence vis-a-vis the patients' wellbeing. This study examined whether treatment adherence predicted HRQoL in a sample of PLWHA in the South-eastern Nigeria. The dimensions of HRQoL considered in this study were physical health, social relationship cognitive component, and treatment impacts. Two hundred (200) patients (43.0% men and 53.0% women) who were managed for HIV/AIDS in Bishop Shanahan Hospital and have been in treatment for at least 12 months participated in the study. Participants were excluded if they were not diagnosed of HIV+/AIDS for at least one year and if they were not receiving anti-retroviral treatment for a minimum period of 6 months. Pearson’s correlations and linear regression analyses were used to examine the hypotheses. Result showed that treatment adherence positively predicted physical health, social relationship, and cognitive components of health-related quality of life, but not the treatment impact dimensions of HRQoL. Adherence to treatment regimens had positive influence towards enhancing the physical health functioning, alleviating worries, and enhancing intimate and social relationship of people living with HIV/AIDS. Findings underscore the importance of examining not only the broader context of HIV/AIDS, but also individual differences in adhering to treatment regimen, when seeking to understand factors that influence HRQoL among PLWHA.