Evaluation of a peer intervention project in the hospital setting to improve the health-related quality of life of recently diagnosed people with HIV infection

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the impact of a peer intervention programme in the hospital setting to improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people recently diagnosed with HIV infection. METHODS: A quasi-experimental single-group study with pre- and post-measurements was conducted. The peer intervention programme consisted of four sessions that took place at the following times: (1) the day of diagnosis, (2) the day when the results of the analyses were collected and ART (antiretroviral therapy) began, (3) one month after the start of ART, and (4) four months after the start of ART. The dependent variables were HRQoL and several of its psychological predictors. Change in the dependent variables was analysed through repeated measures, variance analysis and covariance analysis. Forty-three people with HIV participated in the intervention (40 men, mean age = 39.14). RESULTS: A significant positive evolution was found in all the predictors of HRQoL, except avoidant coping (p < .05). A positive evolution was also found in all HRQoL dimensions (p < .05). There was a significant increase in CD4 cells/mm(3) lymphocytes (p < .0001) and in the CD4/CD8 ratio (p < .001). The positive differential scores in the psychological health and social relationship dimensions influenced the increase in CD4 cells/mm(3) lymphocytes (p = .012, p = .13). The increase in the social relations dimension score and overall health perception influenced the recovery of the CD4/CD8 ratio (p = .044; p = .068). CONCLUSIONS: Peer intervention improved the HRQoL of people recently diagnosed with HIV, and enhanced psychological health and social relationships covariate with their immunological recovery. This study represents an essential advance in evaluating peer intervention programmes for positive prevention.