"How well do we know our patients?": Further validation of a complexity rating scale for HIV.

Background: 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).

'What doesn't kill you. . .': A qualitative analysis of factors impacting the quality of life of people living with 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.

The Role of Comorbidity on Retention in HIV Care.

Retention is a central component of the Cascade, facilitating monitoring of comorbidity. Country-specific definitions differ and may suit stable and functioning clients, while not appropriately classifying complex clinical presentations characterized by comorbidity. A retrospective file review of 363 people living with HIV attending a Sydney HIV clinic was conducted.

Retention in HIV Care in Australia: The Perspectives of Clinicians and Clients, and the Impact of Medical and Psychosocial Comorbidity.

Significant advances in our understanding and treatment of HIV have led to improvements in the medical management of the illness, as HIV infection has evolved from an acute to a chronic illness. Increasing our understanding of the medical and/or psychosocial comorbidities, which can interact to determine "clinical complexity" and impact HIV management, will further strengthen this process. Retention in care is a critical step of the HIV Treatment Cascade, which facilitates effective management of these comorbidities and their impact on HIV medical management.

Predictors of Adult Retention in HIV Care: A Systematic Review.

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify predictors of poor adult retention in HIV medical care in developed and developing countries. An electronic search was conducted with MEDLINE (OVID), PubMED, EBSCO, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases, as well as manual searches. Original, quantitative, adult studies in English, published between 1995 and 2015 were included.