Correlates of quality of life in symptomatic HIV patients living in Hong Kong

This cross-sectional study assessed quality of life (QOL), coping styles, m ood and uncertainty in illness in a non-random sample of 46 (out of 91 elig ible) symptomatic HIV patients living in Hong Kong. QOL was moderate and th e main concerns were related to the environmental aspects of QOL, spiritual ity and social relationships. Considerable mood disturbance was demonstrate d in the sample, especially with regards to depression, fatigue and tension /anxiety. High levels of uncertainty in illness were also reported. A media n split of the uncertainty score demonstrated that high uncertainty was rel ated to lower levels of overall QOL (p = 0.04), higher psychological dysfun ction (p = 0.05), worse adjustment with the environment (p <0.001) and high er mood disturbance (p = 0.008). The sample predominantly used internal cop ing, which also correlated well with higher QOL scores. Through regression analysis it was shown that QOL could be predicted with the combined effects of uncertainty in illness and fatigue (adjusted R-2 = 0.51, p <0.001). Fin dings indicate that efforts should be directed towards improving QOL issues in the Chinese HIV patients and interventions could be introduced to allev iate those factors that were found to affect QOL. It is suggested that such interventions may include group or individual psychological therapies, man agement of fatigue and teaching patients more effective coping techniques.