Determination of the effect of self-care based on the need for quality of life in people with AIDS

Introduction
Considering the prevalence of acquired immunodeficiency virus infection and the need to strengthen programs for improving quality of life, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of self-care based on the need for quality of life in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Material and methods
In a clinical trial study, 66 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients referred to Navab Safavi Hospital in Isfahan were assigned to two intervention and control groups randomly. The first group was placed under the intervention of self-care program and no intervention was performed in the second group. The quality of life score of patients before and after the intervention in the two groups was examined and compared.

Results
The mean quality of life score in the intervention group was 68.7 ± 11.8 before and reached 79.7 ± 10.3 after intervention, which was statistically significant (p = 0.002). In the control group, the mean quality of life scores before and after treatment were 65.7 ± 11.9 and 60.8 ± 11.7, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.053). Also, the change in the quality of life score was statistically significant (p < 0.001) between case and control groups.

Conclusions
Providing self-care programs in patients with HIV leads to an increase in the quality of life in them. Since these patients are at risk for various types of psychiatric disorders, they must be mentally and emotionally supported and should be encouraged to improve their quality of life by promoting their own self-care programs. Medical science and doctors may find the findings useful in their medical experience and practice.