HIV Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about HIV, including details on human immunodeficiency virus, testing, treatment, prevention, vaccines, aids.

A comparative study of variables that have an impact on noncancer end-of-life diagnoses.

Dobratz M

University of Washington-Tacoma, USA.

By way of analysis of variance, this secondary analysis compared three groups of noncancer home hospice patients (AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS],and other) for psychological correlates of adaptation and well-being, pain, and physical function, as measured by the Life Closure Scale (LCS), the Affect Balance Scale, the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire Part I, and the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale. The sample included 10 AIDS patients (Group 1), 6 ALS patients (Group 2), and 5 patients with other noncancer, end-stage diseases (Group 3). A significant difference was found between Group 2 (ALS) and Group 3 (other) on the LCS, F(2, 18) = 4.3, p =.03. Scheffe and Duncan range post hoc tests and at test at the p</=.05 level (t9 = 4.1, p =.003) confirmed the finding. No significant group differences were found among the ALS, AIDS, and other groups in measures of psychological well-being, pain, and physical function.

Published 27 September 2004 in Clin Nurs Res, 13(4): 309-25.
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