Physical and social correlates of perceived psychological support among hospitalized AIDS patients

Persons living with HIV disease are faced with a broad array of physical and psychosocial problems across the trajectory of their illness. Almost all will be hospitalized for nursing care during the course of their disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the physical health and social correlates of perceived psychological support among hospitalized AIDS patients. The sample consisted of 168 AIDS patients hospitalized with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Each patient rated his or her psychological support and physical condition on a scale of 1-10. Self-care ability was measured by the Quality Audit Marker. Physiological and social variables were obtained from an audit of the patient record. Stepwise regression analysis by sets indicated that only 12% of the variance was explained by the antecedent variables of physical health (self-care ability, white blood count, perception of physical condition, and first PCP admission)) and social (living alone and insurance status) correlates. Self-care ability and living alone were found to be significant predictors of self-rating of perceived psychological support in this sample. Further research is needed in the area of perceived psychological support among hospitalized AIDS patients as a basis for providing quality nursing care.