Quality-of-life issues influence the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health, medical, and nursing services.60 Improved QoL is a desired outcome of interventions. Quality-of-life assessments can identify individuals at risk for poor health and can be useful to identify interventions that promote health and prevent illness.61
There are many reasons to adopt a QoL emphasis when considering the health and health needs of people living with HIV infection and AIDS. In addition to extending survival periods from the time of diagnosis, it is important to consider the quality of the life extended.62
Due to the nature of HIV and AIDS, the QoL impli-cations continue to shift as the disease and its treatments evolve. For some patients, QoL implications may shift from disease and symptom management to managing occupational and social roles, adherence to complicated medication regimens, and the reconstruction of self. For others, the understanding and management of symptoms will continue to present QoL challenges.