Quality of life in HIV-infected Chinese women and their family caregivers:an intervention study

Abstract

China is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of HIV-infected women. In this study, we describe the development and preliminary evaluation of an intervention tailored for Chinese HIV-infected women and caregivers to improve their self- and family management, with goals of enhancing their physical quality of life (QOL) and decreasing their depressive symptomatology. Forty-one HIV-infected women and their caregivers were recruited from two premier Chinese hospitals from July 2014 through March 2016. Participants were randomized to either the control or intervention arm for the Self- and Family Management Intervention (SAFMI). Each study dyad in the intervention arm received three counseling sessions with a nurse interventionist. At baseline, immediate post-intervention (month 1) and follow-up (month 3), the participants were assessed by a self-reported survey. Generalized Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. Chinese HIV-infected women in the intervention arm had significantly higher probability of higher physical QOL at month 1 and lower probability of clinically meaningful depressive symptomatology at month 3 compared with women in the control arm. In contrast, the effects of the intervention were less salient for caregivers. This study represents one of the first in China to include family caregivers in HIV management. Feasibility and acceptability were high, in that family members were willing to join the study, learn about HIV, and practice new skills to support the HIV-infected women in their lives. A larger trial is needed to fully evaluate this intervention which shows promising preliminary effects in promoting physical QOL and decreasing depressive symptomatology among Chinese HIV-infected women.

Psychosocial interventions for depression delivered by non-mental health specialists to people living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

“…We reviewed the full text of 287 potentially eligible studies and excluded 272 studies (Appendix S2 in the Online Supplementary Document ). We ultimately included 15 studies [ 14 - 16 , 21 - 32 ] which corresponded to 14 RCTs.…”

“…Characteristics of the 14 RCTs are described in Tables 1 and 2 and summarised here. Four trials were pilot studies [ 21 , 23 , 27 , 28 ]. There were eleven parallel RCTs [ 14 - 16 , 21 , 26 - 32 ], one stepped-wedge RCT [ 22 ], one full factorial RCT [ 23 ], one three-arm RCT [ 25 ].…”

“…Four trials were pilot studies [ 21 , 23 , 27 , 28 ]. There were eleven parallel RCTs [ 14 - 16 , 21 , 26 - 32 ], one stepped-wedge RCT [ 22 ], one full factorial RCT [ 23 ], one three-arm RCT [ 25 ]. Six studies were conducted in China [ 14 , 21 , 25 , 26 , 30 , 31 ], two in South Africa [ 16 , 28 ], one in Tanzania [ 22 ], one in Argentina [ 23 ], one in Uganda [ 15 ], one in India [ 27 ] and two in Kenya [ 29 , 32 ].…”

Care engagement with healthcare providers and symptom management self-efficacy in women living with HIV in China: secondary analysis of an intervention study

“…The intervention for self and family management consisted of five major components: family support; biofeedback for relaxation; cognitive–behavioral management skills; management of anxiety, stress, and depression; and psycho-education. Details of the intervention design, setting, and sampling were described in another paper [ 31 ]. The control group participants and their family caregivers were receiving the usual care, which included medication pick-ups, advice on the possible side effects of the medications, and conversations that WLWH and family caregivers originated with their physicians.…”

“…Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviews (ACASI) were conducted three times for each participant: at baseline, Week 4, and Week 12. All participants answered the study survey in Chinese, which was translated and back translated by four bilingual researchers; the study questionnaires have been used in previous studies in China with good reliability [ 9 , 15 , 23 , 30 , 31 ]. All the data, including the demographic data were collected using ACASI.…”