Publications by authors named "Ruth Hennessy"
Although the biomedical advancements in HIV treatment have improved the original prognosis of the illness, people living with HIV (PLHIV) continue to encounter psychosocial challenges that impact their quality of life (QoL), including HIV-stigma and social connectedness. The present study investigates how different types of HIV-related stigma, as per the Conceptual Model of Perceived Stigma, respectively relate to QoL in the context of social connectedness in PLHIV. A total of 213 PLHIV attending a tertiary HIV clinic in Sydney Australia, completed questionnaires assessing HIV-related stigma, social connectedness, and QoL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite advances in the management and treatment of HIV, identifying risks for disengagement are essential to maximize positive outcomes. The current study investigated the validity of the Clinical Complexity Rating Scale for HIV (CCRS-HIV), a risk-prediction tool, by assessing agreement between patient and clinician scores of patient complexity.
Methods: 207 patients completed the patient version of the CCRS-HIV (CCRS-HIV), and six Attending Medical Officers (AMOs) caring for those individuals completed the original clinician version (CCRS-HIV).
Despite viral suppression, people living with HIV (PLHIV) report lower quality of life (QoL) than the general population, negatively impacting treatment adherence and wellbeing. This qualitative study explored factors influencing QoL of PLHIV. Participants completed a QoL questionnaire, with cut-off scores used to allocate participants into Low-Moderate QoL ( = 11) or High-Very High QoL ( = 10) focus groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- HIV is seen as a manageable chronic condition nowadays, but individuals living with it still face significant psychosocial issues that affect their quality of life (QoL).
- A study involving 122 participants at a Sydney HIV clinic explored how factors like HIV-related stigma, social support, and mental health influence the QoL of people living with HIV.
- The findings revealed that stigma and mental health problems generally lead to lower QoL, while social connectedness tends to enhance QoL, highlighting potential areas for clinical intervention to improve patients' well-being.