title: Causal model of health: health-related quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS in the northern region of Thailand.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationships between age, antiretroviral treatment, social support, symptom experience, self-care strategies, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The subjects were 422 people living with HIV/AIDS. The data were collected via the Personal Resource Questionnaire 85 part 2, Symptom Experience Questionnaire, Self-care Strategies Questionnaire, and HRQOL Questionnaire. The results revealed that symptom experience had a significant negative direct effect on the HRQOL. Age, social support, antiretroviral treatment, and self-care strategies had a significant positive direct effect on the HRQOL. Moreover, social support and antiretroviral treatment had an indirect effect on the HRQOL via self-care strategies. The findings indicated that the health-care team should promote social support, both in the family and the community, including antiretroviral treatment, for enhanced HRQOL in people living with HIV/AIDS in the future.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. manlikat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Thitiarpha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tangkawanich
authors.forename: Jintana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yunibhand
authors.forename: Sureeporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thanasilp
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Magilvy
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents