Health-related quality of life and health locus of control beliefs among HIV-infected treated patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relations between health locus of control (HLOC) beliefs and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in 302 HIV-infected patients enrolled in a French cohort, 44 months (M44) after they began highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).


METHODS
HLOC beliefs were measured with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLOC) scale and HRQL, with the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Health Survey (MOS-SF-36).


RESULTS
Internal HLOC beliefs at the initiation of treatment were associated with both physical HRQL in multivariate analysis, while chance HLOC beliefs on beginning HAART were associated with mental HRQL at M44.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the importance of considering the psychological characteristics and psychosocial beliefs of patients at the initiation of ARV treatment to optimise the long-term HRQL of HIV-infected patient and to develop adaptive intervention on coping strategies.
Préau
Marie
M
INSERM U379/ORS, Marseille, France. preau@marseille.inserm.fr
Vincent
Emmanuelle
E
Spire
Bruno
B
Reliquet
Véronique
V
Fournier
Isabelle
I
Michelet
Christian
C
Leport
Catherine
C
Morin
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015704:CD4 Antigens