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The will to live among HIV-infected patients
J Tsevat1, S N Sherman, J A McElwee
1Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center and SNS Research, Ohio 45267-0535, USA. Joel.Tsevat@uc.edu
Annals of Internal Medicine
|July 31, 1999
Summary
Many people living with HIV (PLWH) report improved life satisfaction and a strong will to live, often valuing their current health and longevity. Spirituality and having children positively influence their quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prioritize both longevity and health.
- Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for comprehensive HIV care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how individuals living with HIV perceive and value their health.
- To explore factors influencing life satisfaction in the HIV-positive population.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interview study conducted at a regional HIV treatment center.
- Involved 51 patients diagnosed with HIV infection.
- Utilized measures including life satisfaction, health ratings, time-tradeoff, and standard-gamble scores.
Main Results:
- Nearly half (49%) of participants reported their current life as better than pre-HIV diagnosis; only 29% felt it was worse.
- A high mean time-tradeoff score (0.95) indicated a strong preference for current health over a shorter, healthy life.
- Average health rating was 71.0/100, and the standard-gamble score was 0.80.
- Spirituality and having children were identified as key factors in life satisfaction and time-tradeoff scores.
Conclusions:
- A significant number of patients with HIV demonstrate a robust will to live.
- Many individuals living with HIV perceive their quality of life as improved post-infection.
- These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in managing HIV.
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