Showing papers by "Raj G. Kumar published in 2023"

Revisiting “Do People Living with HIV/AIDS Have Better Quality of Life” – Findings from a cross-sectional study

Abstract: Introduction: HIV/AIDS is a challenging disease affecting multiple facets of life. From being a communicable disease alone, it is now posing mental health problems and adjustment disorders as the longevity of HIV/AIDS patients is increasing. In the present study, the quality of life (QOL) among HIV patients was studied, in physical, psychological, environmental, and social domains using the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted to assess QOL among 140 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients attending an antiretroviral therapy (ART) center. The WHO QOL BREF questionnaire was used as a tool for collecting data. Results: The overall QOL among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) was 14.29 (±1.9), with the highest mean score in social domain with a mean of 15.42 (±2.73) and the lowest in physical domain with a mean of 14.01 (±2.73). A statistically significant association was found between age, gender, place of residence, disclosure status, and overall QOL. PLWHA with high CD4 count and patients on ART had better QOL. Conclusion: Overall QOL in PLWHAs is comparable with other countries, indicating the success of National AIDS Control Programme. Few aspects, if incorporated, can increase further improve QOL among HIV patients.

Developing multidimensional participation profiles after traumatic brain injury: a TBI model systems study.

Abstract: Purpose. To characterize societal participation profiles after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) along objective (Frequency) and subjective (Satisfaction, Importance, Enfranchisement) dimensions.Materials and Methods. We conducted secondary analyses of a TBI Model Systems sub-study (N = 408). Multiaxial assessment of participation included the Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective and -Subjective questionnaires (Participation Frequency and Importance/Satisfaction, respectively) and the Enfranchisement Scale. Participants provided responses via telephone interview 1-15 years post-injury. Multidimensional participation profiles (classes) were extracted using latent profile analysis.Results. A 4-class solution was identified as providing maximal statistical separation between profiles and being clinically meaningful based on profile demographic features. One profile group (48.5% of the sample) exhibited the "best" participation profile (High Frequency, Satisfaction, Importance, and Enfranchisement) and was also the most advantaged according to socioeconomic indicators. Other profile groups showed appreciable heterogeneity across participation dimensions. Age, race/ethnicity, education level, ability to drive, and urbanicity were features that varied between profiles.Conclusions. Societal participation is a critical, but inherently complex, TBI outcome that may not be adequately captured by a single index. Our data underscore the importance of a multidimensional approach to participation assessment and interpretation using profiles. The use of participation profiles may promote precision health interventions for community integration.Implications for RehabilitationOur study found unidimensional measures of societal participation in traumatic brain injury (TBI) populations that focus exclusively on frequency indicators may be overly simplistic and miss key subjective components of participationTaking a multidimensional perspective, we documented four meaningfully distinct participation subgroups (including both objective and subjective dimensions of societal participation) within the TBI rehabilitation populationMultidimensional profiles of participation may be used to group individuals with TBI into target groups for intervention (e.g., deeper goal assessment for individuals who do not rate standard participation activities as important, but also do not participate and do not feel enfranchised).