Health locus of control, distress, and utilization of protease inhibitors among HIV-positive men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between health locus of control (HLOC), distress, and protease inhibitor (PI) utilization in gay/bisexual men in all stages of HIV illness.


METHODS
A total of 173 men participating in a longitudinal study of the psychological effects of HIV illness were administered a number of psychological distress measures and the HLOC scale. The association between the HLOC subscales, distress, and PI utilization was evaluated.


RESULTS
In addition to physical symptoms, the attribution of health status to chance or fate significantly predicted depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness, and recent life stress. Results also demonstrated a significant relationship between strong, positive beliefs in doctors and other health care professionals and PI utilization.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study point to a strong association between beliefs that health status is related to chance or fate and distress. In addition, beliefs in physicians and other health care providers appear to contribute to decisions to initiate PI therapy.
Evans
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. sue2002@med.cornell.edu
Ferrando
S J
SJ
Rabkin
J G
JG
Fishman
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D011480:Protease Inhibitors