title: The correlation between perceived social support and illness uncertainty in people with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome in iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Illness uncertainty is a source of a chronic and pervasive psychological stress for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWH), and largely affects their quality of life and the ability to cope with the disease. Based on the uncertainty in illness theory, the social support is one of the illness uncertainty antecedents, and influences the level of uncertainty perceived by patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine uncertainty in PLWH and its correlation with social support in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 80 PLWH presenting to AIDS Research Center, Tehran, Iran in 2013. The data collected using illness uncertainty and social support inventories were analyzed through Pearson's correlation coefficient, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a high level of illness uncertainty in PLWH and a negative significant correlation between perceived social support and illness uncertainty (P = 0.01, r = -0.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uncertainty is a serious aspect of illness experience in Iranian PLWH. Providing adequate, structured information to patients as well as opportunities to discuss their concerns with other PLWH and receive emotional support from their health care providers may be worthwhile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Moosa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassouli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bahri
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery School, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammadipoor
keywords: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Iran; Social support; Uncertainty in illness