title: Assessing HIV and AIDS treatment safety and health-related quality of life among cohort of Malaysian patients: a discussion on methodological approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly recognized as an important outcome and as a complement to traditional biological end points of diseases such as mortality. Unless there is a complete cure available for HIV/AIDS, development and implementation of a reliable and valid cross cultural quality of life measure is necessary to assess not only the physical and medical needs of HIV/AIDS people, but their psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual areas of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative exploration of HIV/AIDS patients' understanding, perceptions and expectations will be carried out with the help of semi structured interview guide by in depth interviews, while quantitative assessment of patient reported adverse drug reactions and their impact on health related quality of life will be carried out by using data collection tool comprising patient demographics, SF-12, Naranjo scale, and a clinical data sheet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings may serve as baseline QOL data of people living with HIV/AIDS in Malaysia and also a source data to aid construction of management plan to improve HIV/AIDS patients' QOL. It will also provide basic information about HIV/AIDS patients' perceptions, expectations and believes towards HIV/AIDS and its treatment which may help in designing strategies to enhance patients' awareness which in turn can help in addressing issues related to compliance and adherence.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia.|Department of Pharmacy Practice, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Imran Ahmed
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syed Azhar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Syed Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Azmi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hassali
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Christopher K C
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: HIV/AIDS; adverse drug reactions; patients' perspective; quality of life