Quality of Life and Health Knowledge Item 27: Results from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Innovative Models of Care

Knowledge Item: CA-Quality of Life and Health-27
Correlations between Health-Related Quality of Life and Symptom Severity

In a sample of 1713 men and women living with HIV/AIDS, a measure of total health-related quality of life was negatively and significantly correlated with measures of symptom severity. Total quality of life correlated with different measures of symptom severity significantly, r = -.41 to r = -.68. This result is for all patients the first time they were assessed whether or not this assessment was made within 90 days of enrollment.

The more that health symptoms hinder daily functioning, the worse the individual's perceived quality of life. The two diagrams that follow show Total Quality of Life predicted by different levels of Total Severity or conversely, Total Symptom Severity predicted by different levels of Total Quality of Life. Either diagram illustrates equally well the correlation of -.746 between Total Symptom Severity and Total Quality of Life.

In interpreting this Knowledge Item, and all others in this section on Quality of Life and Health, remember that the ratings of quality of life, symptom impact, and healthcare utilization are based on patient self reports.

Knowledge Item Citation: Huba, G. J., Melchior, L. A., Panter, A. T., and the HRSA/HAB SPNS Cooperative Agreement Steering Committee (1998-2001). Knowledge Item: CA-Quality of Life and Health-27 from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements on Innovative Models of Care, The Measurement Group Knowledge Base on HIV/AIDS Care, Online at www.TheMeasurementGroup.com.

Last Updated: March 25, 2005; data through June 15, 1999; analyses conducted November 1999 and June 2000.

Knowledge Base Citation: The Knowledge Base and this Knowledge Item were designed and authored by G. J. Huba, Ph.D.; in collaboration with Lisa A. Melchior, Ph.D.; A. T. Panter, Ph.D.; and the staff of The Measurement Group. Cite this work as "Huba, G. J., Melchior, L. A., and Panter, A. T. (1998 - 2001). The Measurement Group Knowledge Base on HIV/AIDS Care. On the World Wide Web: http://www.TheMeasurementGroup.com."

Questions or Comments: Contact The Measurement Group.

Use of Knowledge Base Information: Acceptable Uses and Limitations.

Collaborators from Participating Projects: Cooperative Agreement Steering Committee 1999.

Participating Projects: This Knowledge Base is based on the service delivery experiences of 27 Cooperative Agreement Projects on Innovative Models of HIV/AIDS Care. These projects and the Evaluation and Dissemination Center which produced this Knowledge Base were funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) as Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) between 1994 and 1999. Click the Model Programs button above for descriptions of the projects that contributed to this specific Knowledge Item, a list of key staff, and project grant numbers.

Why This Evaluation was Conducted: Editorial.

More Information: Design of this Knowledge Base.

Recommended Citation Format for Web Materials: American Psychological Association Publication Manual Section, Revised 2001.

Work on the Knowledge Base and the cross-cutting evaluation was supported in part by Grant Number 5 U90 HA 00030-05 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau's (HAB) Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS). The contents of this Knowledge Base are solely the responsibility of The Measurement Group and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HRSA/HAB's Special Projects of National Significance nor may they represent the positions of the individual grantees whose projects are included in the cross-cutting evaluation.