Identification of Self-Management Behavior Clusters Among People Living with HIV in China: A Latent Class Profile Analysis

• Main Authors: Zhang H, Yin Y, Wang H, Han Y, Wang X, Liu Y, Chen H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-06-01
• Series: Patient Preference and Adherence
• Subjects: china; cross-sectional study; hiv; aids; self-management
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/identification-of-self-management-behavior-clusters-among-people-livin-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PPA

Hong Zhang,1,2 Yao Yin,1 Huan Wang,1 Ying Han,3 Xia Wang,1 Yi Liu,4 Hong Chen1 1West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, Medical School, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Skills Training Center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hong ChenWest China School of Nursing, Sichuan University/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxuexiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail] LiuDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxuexiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: Self-management directly affects the health outcomes and quality of life among people living with HIV (PLWH). A better understanding of self-management level will provide evidence for researchers to develop effective interventions.Purpose: This study aims to identify the latent classes among PLWH in their levels of self-management behavior, and to explore the sociodemographic and disease-related predictors within these classes.Materials and Methods: A total of 868 PLWH were recruited from August 2017 to January 2019 in Sichuan Province, China. A latent class profile analysis was used to identify participants’ self-management behavior, and multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the sociodemographic and disease-related predictors of the different latent classes.Results: Model fit indices supported a three-class model. The mean self-management scores in the three classes were 23.56 (SD=6.02), 37.91 (SD=3.80), and 47.95 (SD=4.18), respectively. The latent classes were Class 1 (a poor level of self-management behavior, 12.1%, n=104), Class 2 (a moderate level of self-management behavior, 56.1%, n=491) and Class 3 (a good level of self-management behavior, 31.7%, n=273). Antiretroviral trerapy (ART) status, infection route, and educational level were the main predictors of self-management behavior.Conclusion: The findings indicated that the level of self-management behaviors among PLWH in China is inadequate. Those with a lower educational level, who were infected through blood/injecting drugs, and who were not receiving ART, showed a significantly lower level of self-management behavior. These results could help healthcare professionals to quickly recognize PLWH who are at a high risk of low-level self-management, using individual characteristics and could provide a scientific basis for the development of effective and targeted programs to improve self-management level in PLWH.Keywords: China, cross-sectional study, HIV, AIDS, self-management