Using a patient-reported outcome measure to assess quality of life at Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre.

Background Attaining a good quality of life (QOL) is a priority for people living with HIV (PLHIV). We explored the interaction between QOL and the associated demographic, behavioural and clinical factors for PLHIV attending an outer-metropolitan clinical setting in Western Sydney, Australia. The clinic's cohort of PLHIV is characterised by relatively high proportions of women, heterosexual men, and patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

Prescribing for patients taking antiretroviral therapy.

Current first-line antiretroviral therapy comprises a combination of drugs that are generally well tolerated. Adverse effects include hypersensitivity reactions, renal and liver toxicity, rhabdomyolysis, hyperlipidaemia, weight gain and neuropsychiatric disorders Most drug-drug interactions related to antiretroviral therapy involve drug absorption, metabolism or elimination. Some interactions may increase toxicity or reduce the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy potentially resulting in treatment failure Routinely checking for adverse drug effects and potential drug-drug interactions is an important part of the care of people taking antiretroviral therapy.

Prescribing for transgender patients.

With greater awareness and social acceptance, increasing numbers of transgender individuals are presenting for gender-affirming hormone treatment. There should be a full psychosocial assessment by an experienced clinician before hormone treatment is considered People assigned as males at birth who transition to female gender are transgender females. Their management includes an estrogen plus an anti-androgen People assigned as females at birth who transition to male gender are transgender males.