Impact of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis on the quality of life of patients in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)

• Grant number: 18/12555-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Aluisio Augusto Cotrim Segurado
• Grantee: Michelle Kaoru Takada de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the impact of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) on the Quality of Life (QoL) of its users in the context of the recent implementation of this public policy in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) for groups at high risk of HIV infection. Following an observational design, we will invite individuals who sought HIV PrEP at the HIV clinic affiliated to Hospital das Clínicas (SEAP-HCFMUSP) to participate in the study. After informed consent participants will be asked to answer the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire in two occasions: on the date of their PrEP screening medical appointment, i.e, before receiving the prescribed antiretrovirals, and again during their follow-up visit on day 180 after being started on PrEP. In addition, the studied cohort will be characterized, based on secondary data obtained from the Siclom database (forms 1, 2 and 4) and on collection of data by means of a standardized questionnaire. Quality of life scores will be calculated for each of the WHOQOL-bref domains (psychological, physical, social relations and environmental) and individually for the first two questions of the questionnaire, concerning the overall perception of QoL and of health, respectively. QoL scores will be compared between the two study time points. We expect results to provide novel information on the impact of HIV PrEP in the quality of life of recipients, thus contributing for the assessment of its effect in accordance to SUS principles of health promotion, integrality and patient-centered care.Key words: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Quality of Life, HIV.