Objective: To validate a two-item food security questionnaire (FSQ) for use in a clinical setting to screen HIV-1 infected patients for food insecurity. Design: The present study was a questionnaire-based survey of forty-nine subjects attending an HIV clinic. Subjects completed a two-item questionnaire and a six-item validated FSQ contemporaneously. Results: A strong correlation was found between the two-item and six-item FSQ (r 5 0?895; 95 % CI 0?821, 0?940; P , 0?0001). Cronbach's a coefficient was found to be 0?94 and 0?90 for the two-item and six-item FSQ, respectively. The two-item FSQ yielded a sensitivity of 100 % (95 % CI 75, 100) and a specificity of 78 % (95 % CI 61, 90). The negative predictive value was found to be 100 % (95 % CI 88, 100). Conclusions:The results of the present study suggest that the two-item FSQ is a valid, reliable and sensitive screening tool of food insecurity in people living with HIV in a clinical setting.

Aim:  The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a three‐item oral health questionnaire for use by dietitians in an ambulatory care setting to screen human immunodeficiency virus‐1‐infected patients at risk of oral diseases to facilitate dental referral. Methods:  The study was a questionnaire‐based survey of 273 participants attending a human immunodeficiency virus clinic in Sydney, Australia. Subjects completed the oral health questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 contemporaneously. Results:  A statistically significant correlation (rho = 0.617 (95% CI 0.54, 0.69), P < 0.0001) was found between the oral health questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 indicating adequate validity. Sensitivity for the three‐question oral health questionnaire was found to be 84% (95% CI 76, 89) with a specificity of 55% (95% CI 46, 63). The negative predictive value was 77 % (95% CI 68, 85). A single screening question performed less well compared with overall sensitivity of the three‐item oral health questionnaire. Conclusion:  The present study found the three‐item oral health questionnaire to be a valid and sensitive screening tool to ‘trigger’ for further oral health assessment and referral to dental professionals. This is a useful tool for dietitians and other health‐care workers involved in the multidisciplinary preventative care of people living with human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: To examine predictors of oral health quality of life (OHQoL) in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected population undergoing routine HIV care in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Method: The study was an anonymous self‐administered survey of 273 patients. Subjects completed the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 and questionnaires on sociodemographics, HIV, and dental issues. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of OHQoL. Results: The study found smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 2.44], time to last dental visit (OR = 2.63), denture use (OR = 2.83), and income level (OR = 0.27) were significantly associated with OHQoL. No HIV‐related variables predicted OHQoL. Conclusion: Smoking, not consulting a dentist in the last year, denture use, and low income were identified as significant predictors which could be targeted to improve quality of life among people living with HIV. Preventing dental diseases may also reduce the risk of activation of latent HIV by oral pathogens.

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare dietary intake in people living with HIV (PLHIV) experiencing symptoms of depression with those not reporting depression. The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D10) was used to classify the risk of depression. Dietary nutrient intake was determined using the diet history and food frequency questionnaire. Depressed (n = 21) compared with non-depressed (n = 37) subjects had significantly lower mean intake of fibre (16.1 versus 25.4 g/day), vitamin A (801.5 versus 1524.8 mg/day), magnesium (299.8 versus 380.0 mg/day) and folate (264.8 versus 402.9 μg/day). The proportion of subjects achieving the recommended intake of these nutrients, with the exception of folate was also found to be lower in the depressed group compared with non-depressed group. The study found that depressive symptomatology in PLHIV was associated with poorer dietary nutrient intake. A multidisciplinary model of care that includes a nutrition assessment is recommended for the management of PLHIV with depression to reduce the risk of associated nutritional problems.

This study validated and compared two different Oral Health Referral Trigger Tools in the form of brief (3-item and 5-item) questionnaires designed to identify people living with HIV (PLHIV) with symptoms of oral disease requiring a dental referral from other health professionals. It was composed of a self-completed questionnaire and oral screen by a dentist of a convenience sample selected from PLHIV attending two outpatient clinics for routine nondental care for HIV infection. The dental exam was completed by a single dentist at a third location. The one hundred participants were HIV positive, predominantly male and of Caucasian origin with a mean age of 45.6 years. Both referral tools were found to be valid and had adequate sensitivity to identify HIV positive subjects at risk of oral disease and facilitate appropriate referral by nondental health professionals to dental health service. When both tools were compared the 3-item tool proved to be a more valid and sensitive indicator which could be easily applied by nondental staff to facilitate a dental referral.

The study finds evidence of associations between FI, employment, lower immune function and poorer health outcomes for people living with HIV in Sydney.

No abstract

Aim:  The present study aimed to test the validity, reliability and sensitivity of a two‐question depression screening instrument with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected subjects. Methods:  The present study is a self‐administered questionnaire of the two‐question depression screening instrument and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale‐D10 completed contemporaneously by participants to assess the validity, reliability and sensitivity of the instrument. Results:  Eighty participants (76 men and 4 women) with a mean age of 43.4 years were enrolled to the study. In this cohort the prevalence of depression was found to be 36%. A significant correlation (rho= 0.68, P < 0.0001) was found between the depression screening instrument and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale indicating adequate validity. The internal reliability of the depression screening instrument was found to be 0.77. The two‐question instrument yielded a sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 58.8%. The false positive rate was 41.2%. However, the false negative rate in this population was found to be only 10.3%. The negative predictive value was 90.9%. Conclusions:  The results of the present study indicated that the two‐question depression screening instrument was valid, reliable and sensitive for detecting individuals at risk of depression in a cohort of people living with human immunodeficiency virus attending a nutrition clinic in an enhanced care setting.