Using PozQoL to support individuals living with HIV
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Process for using PozQoL
IMPORTANT: PozQoL should only be used with people living with HIV (PLHIV).
📚 Related resource: PozQoL Implementation Kit (pdf download)
Using PozQoL to support clients and patients
PozQoL domain scores can help service providers understand more about their clients or patients. This helps them make better decisions about the care they provide. It can also help them understand the kinds of referrals that might have the most benefits for their clients or patients.
The following table provides recommendations for working with PLHIV with low scores in different domains.
Although the table is a helpful guide, it does not replace talking with clients. It is always important to ask clients (and listen to their) answers about:
- Why they think they scored the way they did in a particular domain
- What kind of kind of support they need or would like to have
📚 Related resources: PozQoL Score Calculator for Individuals (.xlsx) and Using PozQoL Scores to improve HIV service and outcomes (.pdf)
Using PozQoL Scores to improve HIV service and outcomes
| Domain | A person with a low score in this domain may be: | They might benefit from: | Suggested referrals: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological* | Experiencing poor mental health, for example:
|
|
|
| Social |
| Meeting PLHIV peers, who can assist in:
|
|
| Health concerns |
|
|
|
| Functional |
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|
|
* PozQoL is not a diagnostic tool. If you are not a mental health worker but you are concerned about your patient or client’s mental health, it is important to refer them to a mental health service.
Case example: Using PozQoL to support an individual
The client’s PozQoL scores indicated that they were experiencing:
- High overall QoL
- High to very high QoL in the psychological and social domains
- Moderate QoL in the health concerns and functional domains
These scores show that this client is doing well overall. But they also show that the client might benefit from some extra support in the health concerns and functional domains.
Providing support for people with lower scores in the health concerns domain
The health concerns domain is about how someone feels about their own health. It includes health-related worries and energy. It also includes how easy they find it to manage HIV and HIV treatment.
The items on the PozQoL Scale that assess this domain (and the example client’s responses) are:
2. I worry about my health. (Moderately)
7. I worry about the impact of HIV on my health. (Moderately)
12. I fear the health effects of HIV as I get older. (Very)
These items obviously don’t cover every possible health concern a person may have. But they do indicate that this person is worried about their health, generally. And that they are worried about how HIV might affect their health, especially as they age.
They might benefit from talking to someone about their treatment and health. Information about staying healthy while ageing with HIV may help alleviate their fears. And these conversations may help to draw out other concerns the client has about managing their health with HIV.
The client might benefit from a referral to one of the other services in the table above. It is important to talk to the client about what kind of support they would like to help them with their worries.
Providing support for people with lower scores in the functional domain
The functional domain is about whether a person feels that they can live what they would call a “normal” life. It includes independence, meaningful occupation, and good standard of living.
The items on the PozQoL Scale that assess this domain (and the example client’s responses) are:
4. I feel that HIV prevents me from doing as much as I would like. (Moderately)
6. Having HIV limits my opportunities in life. (Moderately)
10. Managing HIV wears me out. (Not at all)
Again, these items don’t cover every possible concern a person may have in this domain. But the score does indicate that this person feels somewhat like HIV is stopping them from living the life they want.
For example, it may be that managing HIV does not wear them out because they have someone who helps them, but that needing someone’s help makes the client feel less independent.
It is impossible to know what is going on for this client without talking to them.
The client might benefit from a referral to one of the other services in the table above. But, again, it is important to talk to the client about what kind of support they need or would like.