Dimensions of health-related quality of life in persons living with HIV disease

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test empirically the influenc e of biological and physiological variables, symptom status, functional sta tus, general health perceptions, characteristics of the individual and char acteristics of the environment on overall quality of life in persons living with HIV disease. Path analysis, using multiple linear regression, was use d to examine the fit between a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) theor etical model and data from a sample of 142 persons with an AIDS diagnosis. Thirty-two per cent of the variance in overall quality of lift: was explain ed by the HRQOL model with symptom status having the greatest influence (be ta = -0.237, R-Yx2(2) = 5%). This analysis suggests that symptom status, fu nctional status and general health perceptions are key dimensions of HRQOL. With a focus on prevention, health promotion, symptom management, and the alleviation of acute and chronic illness effects, HRQOL may be appropriate for capturing the outcomes of nursing interventions.