Quality of life in people with advanced HIV/AIDS in Norway

This article reports findings from Phase 1 of a replicated study conducted in Norway. The study is part of a cross-national study developing an ethnically sensitive instrument to assess quality of life for people with advanced HIV/AIDS. Interpretive data generated from interviews with 10 men and 3 significant others, a total of 19 interviews, shows that they learn to live with the virus but that after crossing over (the time when AIDS was diagnosed), they became aware that there was no turning around. Useful strategies for maintaining quality of life were controlling, hoping, talking, and reminiscing. Reminiscing was like a sentimental journey into the past, not looking to the future, letting go while planning and preparing to die. Comparing findings from the Norwegian study replication with the San Francisco study shows that similar themes were of concern to the subjects but they were played out differently.