The quality of life is one of the key factors in assessing the health status of HIV-positive individuals, with its improvement considered an important goal of treatment. Assessment of the quality of life helps accurately evaluate the impact of diseases and treatment on the patient’s life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of HIV-positive people in Poland using the example of patients treated in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, based on the evaluation of HIV-positive status acceptance in HIV patients as well as sociometric variables such as age, gender and marital status. A total of 147 patients participated in this study, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%). This study was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020 in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients with the Consultation and Diagnostic Centre at the Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Bialystok. This study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire “Psychosocial Situation of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Poland” by Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and the following standardised psychometric tools: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The majority of respondents (60%) reported no significant changes in their lives as a result of HIV infection. Gender was not a differentiating factor in the quality of life of people living with HIV. The variation in psychometric measures within the female and male groups was far greater than the difference between them. Marital status clearly differentiated the quality of life. The following conclusions were drawn from this study: The surveyed HIV patients presented a moderate level of quality of life, which was mainly determined by marital status. Higher quality of life was presented by married persons. Duration of infection was not correlated with quality of life. The level of acceptance of HIV infection was relatively high among respondents. A higher level of HIV acceptance was associated with a higher quality of life. The respondents presented a relatively poor level of satisfaction with life. Changing jobs, going on disability, relationship breakdown, not having a family of their own and losing friends were the key HIV-related changes in the lives of the respondents.

Introduction: Sex life is an important element contributing to the overall quality of life. It is also a particularly sensitive dimension of quality of life for HIV-positive patients.Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the sexual life of people living with HIV in Poland treated in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, and its impact on the quality of life, life satisfaction, HIV status acceptance, general health status and depressive symptoms among the respondents.Methods: A total of 147 participants, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%), took part in the research. The study was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020. The study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire “Psychosocial situation of people living with HIV/AIDS” by Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and the following standardised psychometric tools: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).Results: One-third of patients rated their sex life as poor or very poor. Almost half of respondents always informed sexual partners of their HIV status (49.7%). The sex life of respondents was highly correlated with almost all psychometric measures used in the study. Those indicating sexual contact as a possible source of HIV infection had a lower quality of life in the domain of general health compared to other respondents, but the difference was relatively small (about 5.5 points).Discussion: In conclusion, the overall satisfaction with the sex life of people living with HIV was moderate with a tendency to poor. The quality of life of people living with HIV was determined by their sex life. Better quality of life was presented by those with good self-reported sex life.

Background: In the contemporary world, a cult of perfection is being created, and deviations from such an ideal image are becoming socially unacceptable. A particular situation arises when a defect or symptoms of a disease appear on the skin, which, in the case of people suffering from psoriasis, are a source of stress, dissatisfaction with the disease, and a reduction in quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether the quality of life related to the occurrence of psoriasis and the level of acceptance of the disease affect coping strategies in stressful situations. Methods: The study involved 111 people with common psoriasis (46.8% women and 53.2% men). Inclusion criteria were as follows: a diagnosis of common psoriasis for at least 0.5 years, no other types of psoriasis, no mental illnesses, and an informed consent of the respondent to participate in the study. In order to compile the research input, a proprietary questionnaire was used along with the following standardised tools: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results: The duration of the disease in the studied population varied and ranged from 0.5 years to over 50 years. Most respondents showed relatively low DLQI scores, with an average value of 10.8 points. In stressful situations (CISS), the respondents primarily used a strategy based on rational thinking (Task-oriented coping), with approximately 54 points on average; followed by an avoidant style (Avoidance-oriented coping), with approximately 50 points on average; and least often an emotional style (Emotion-oriented coping), with approximately 46 points on average. The average level of disease acceptance (AIS) in the studied group equalled approximately 26 points. Conclusions: Psoriatic lesions on the torso caused less rational behaviour in stressful situations (a decrease in the Task-oriented coping) in women but had the opposite result in men, whereas psoriatic lesions on the head stimulated the use of Task-oriented coping in women but had the opposite result in men. The higher the acceptance of the disease (AIS) presented by the respondents, the less often they used an emotional strategy (Emotion-oriented coping) in stressful situations. The higher the quality of life (DLQI) was, the lower the values of Emotion-oriented coping were noted.

Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to assess discriminatory behaviours towards HIV-infected people in Poland reported by patients treated in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients of the Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital. Materials and methods: A total of 147 participants, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%), took part in the research. The study was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020. The study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire “Psychosocial situation of people living with HIV/ AIDS in Poland” by Dr Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and standardised psychometric tools: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: One in three respondents (32.7%) experienced discrimination. Healthcare professionals were reported to most frequently show discriminatory behaviour against seropositive persons (23.8%). Refusal of medical assistance and unethical treatment by medical staff were mentioned as the most common forms of discrimination (10.9% each). Conclusions: The quality of life of HIV-infected persons was moderate and was determined by the experience of stigma/discrimination due to their HIV status. Higher quality of life was presented by those who did not experience stigma/discrimination. HIV-infected respondents often experienced discrimination and stigma due to their clinical diagnosis. Since healthcare workers were the most common source of discrimination, it is important to undertake educational activities in this professional group as part of campaign against discrimination of HIV-positive people.

Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of mood disorders symptoms and suicidal thoughts among HIV patients treated in Białystok and their impact on quality of life. Materials and methods: A total of 147 participants, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%), took part in the research. The study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire “Psychosocial situation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Poland” by Dr Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Suicidal thoughts and attempts were reported by 20% and 7% of respondents, respectively. Fear of living with HIV and fear of loneliness were the predominant reasons for suicidal thoughts (38.7% in total). Two-thirds of respondents had no depressive symptoms, while one-fourth of respondents presented with at most moderate depressive symptoms. There were significant differences in the level of health problems depending on marital status. Those who had suicidal thoughts after receiving HIV diagnosis had a lower quality of life. Conclusions: One-third of the respondents reported symptoms of mood disorders, most of which were of moderate intensity, and one-fourth of the respondents had suicidal thoughts and attempts. The quality of life of HIV patients was mainly determined by their general physical and mental health and social support. A higher quality of life was presented by those with better general health status who received social support. Only marital status determinated the prevalence of symptoms of mood disorders in the study group.

Introduction: Sexual quality of life is an important component of health and wellbeing for people with chronic diseases. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess sexual quality of life among patients with lung cancer and people living with HIV. Methods: The study included 191 participants (98 men and 93 women) diagnosed with lung cancer or HIV infection. The study used a proprietary questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), and the Sexual Quality of Life—Female (SQoL-F) and Male (SQoL-M). Results: Among men, statistically significant negative relationships were observed between age and erectile function ( p = 0.04), orgasmic function ( p = 0.018), and sexual desire ( p = 0.032) on the IIEF-15. Sexual desire among women was significantly negatively correlated with age in the lung cancer group ( p = 0.007). The level of formal education had a significant influence on the scores in individual domains on the IIEF-15. The analysis indicated a significant relationship of formal education level on sexual quality of life in both men and women. The analysis performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences in erectile function ( p = 0.044) and orgasmic function ( p = 0.012) in men depending on financial status. In terms of SQoL-F, women who rated their financial situation as “neither good nor bad” scored significantly lower than women with a good financial situation ( p = 0.007). Discussion: In conclusion, sociodemographic factors such as age, formal education, and financial status, significantly influenced the functioning of patients living with HIV and those diagnosed with lung cancer. Individuals living with HIV demonstrated higher levels of sexual functioning and sexual quality of life compared with patients with lung cancer. A better financial situation, and higher formal educational attainment were associated with higher scores on scales used in the study.