title: Quality of life and use of health care among people with genital herpes in France.
abstract: In order to assess psychological morbidity in France related to genital herpes infection, we carried out a transversal study comparing infected patients with a control group. A total of 236 patients with genital herpes were first identified by means of a postal survey, then matched against a witness group of 236 noninfected persons. Detailed questionnaires were sent out to each person in the 2 groups. A total of 150 herpes patients and 200 non-infected persons answered the questionnaire, which enabled us to measure the incidence of the disease by means of 2 indicators: a herpes-specific scale and the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Emotional trauma due to genital herpes was reported amongst 23% of the participants. Of the participants, 57% indicated that herpes interfered with their sexual relationships; 50% felt it difficult to live with genital herpes; and 37% felt that herpes ruins their lives. An analysis assessing health-related quality of life indicated significant differences between the scores of the 2 groups and showed that quality of life is lower amongst herpes patients. Respondents with genital herpes required more frequent consultations with GPs (81% vs. 73%), and significantly more frequent consultations with specialists (59% vs. 45%). Our study confirms that substantial psychological morbidity exists in patients with genital herpes.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Law and Economics, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taboulet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halioua
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Malkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires