Identifying the Unmet Medical Needs of HIV-Positive Subjects in Korea: Results of a Nationwide Online Survey

Infect Chemother. 2023 Sep;55(3):397-402. doi: 10.3947/ic.2023.0065.

Abstract

An online survey was conducted in Korea to identify the unmet medical needs of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). Participants (n = 105) were mostly male (93.3%), aged >40 years (75.2%), and treated for ≥6 years post-diagnosis (61.9%). Most PLWH (71.4%) were very satisfied/satisfied with their HIV management. Areas of concern were quality of life (QoL) and mental health. Characteristics of a long-term therapeutic agent were 'low risk of resistance', 'high long-term viral suppression efficacy', and 'high degree of safety'. Pre-consultation QoL and mental health screening would be beneficial for the long-term success of HIV management.

Keywords: HIV; Mental health; Psychological health; Quality of life; Surveys and questionnaires.