Impact of Support Groups for People Living With HIV on Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

Background Support groups for people living with HIV (PLHIV) are integrated into Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) care and treatment programs as a modality for increasing patient literacy and as an intervention to address the psychosocial needs of patients. However, the impact of support groups on key health outcomes has not been fully determined. Methods We searched electronic databases from January 1995 through May 2014 and reviewed relevant literature on the impact of support groups on mortality, morbidity, retention in HIV care, quality of life, and ongoing HIV transmission, as well as their cost effectiveness. Results Of 1809 citations identified, 20 met inclusion criteria. One reported on mortality, seven on morbidity, five on retention in care, seven on quality of life, and seven on ongoing HIV transmission. Eighteen (90%) of the articles reported largely positive results on the impact of support group interventions on key outcomes. Support groups were associated with reduced mortality and morbidity, increased retention in care and improved quality of life. Due to study limitations, the overall quality of evidence was rated as fair for mortality, morbidity, retention in care, and quality of life, and poor for HIV transmission. Conclusions Implementing support groups as an intervention is expected to have a high impact on morbidity and retention in care and a moderate impact on mortality and quality of life of PLHIV. Support groups improve disclosure with potential prevention benefits but the impact on ongoing transmission is uncertain. It is unclear if this intervention is cost-effective given the paucity of studies in this area.

Understanding Sustained Retention in HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment: a Synthetic Review

“…Creating social support between persons living with HIV, particularly when community stigma is strong, offers a powerful strategy to enhance social normalization. Interventions to create new social support leverage peer volunteers or community health workers in treatment buddy programs, support groups, and 1-on-1 counseling/visits that may occur at the facility, community, or home [47]. Creating new social relationships with other PLWHA or those more accepting of HIV opens the door to greater social support.…”

Stigma kills! The psychological effects of emotional abuse and discrimination towards a patient with HIV in Uganda

“…Social support groups have been found to improve quality of life33 and reduce morbidity and mortality as well as improving retention in care 34. Attending support groups has been shown to increase confidence, reduce perceived stigma as well as build coping skills and self-esteem 33.…”

The role of personal and household members’ substance use in health-related quality of life in women living with HIV/AIDS

“…Who one lives with can influence patterns of every day social interactions. Positive interactions with household members can prevent social isolation and provide meaningful engagement and emotional support, resulting in higher physical and mental HRQOL among PLWH (Bateganya, Amanyeiwe, Roxo, & Dong, 2015; Jia et al, 2004; Ruiz Perez et al, 2005). However, household social interactions can also entail adverse consequences, such as relational conflict (Henning-Smith, 2016).…”