Gender differences in the symptoms and physical and mental well-being of dyspeptics: A population based study

Purpose: To compare women and men with dyspepsia in terms of symptoms, physical and mental well-being and the relationships between individual symptoms and well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional random telephone survey of 2300 Australians identified 748 people with dyspepsia who were interviewed regarding the number, types and severity of symptoms and physical (PCS) and mental well-being (MCS) measured by the SF-12. Results: There were no significant gender differences in number or average severity of symptoms. Bloating, nausea, and early satiety were significantly more frequent among women; food regurgitation and heartburn in men. Dyspeptics (PCS = 47.1, MCS = 46.0) had poorer physical (p < 0.001) and mental well-being (p < 0.001) than did non-dyspeptics (PCS = 53.5, MCS = 55.3). Among dyspeptics, women (PCS = 46.4, MCS = 44.7) had poorer physical (p < 0.05) and mental well-being (p < 0.001) than males (PCS = 47.9, MCS = 47.5). Some symptoms were associated with low well-being for both sexes e.g. nausea. For women retching was related to poor physical well-being, and food regurgitation, dysphagia, bloating and epigastric pain to poor mental well-being. Among men epigastric pain and heartburn were associated with poor physical well-being, acid regurgitation with poor mental well-being, and vomiting with both. Conclusions: Dyspeptics report poorer physical and mental well-being than do non-dyspeptics. The difference between groups is greater for mental well-being, especially among women. Both physical and social factors may contribute to gender differences.     

Oral lesions in infection with human immunodeficiency virus

This paper discusses the importance of oral lesions as indicators of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and as predictors of progression of HIV disease to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Oral manifestations are among the earliest and most important indicators of infection with HIV. Seven cardinal lesions, oral candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, Kaposi sarcoma, linear gingival erythema, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which are strongly associated with HIV infection, have been identified and internationally calibrated, and are seen in both developed and developing countries. They may provide a strong indication of HIV infection and be present in the majority of HIV-infected people. Antiretroviral therapy may affect the prevalence of HIV-related lesions. The presence of oral lesions can have a significant impact on health-related quality of life. Oral health is strongly associated with physical and mental health and there are significant increases in oral health needs in people with HIV infection, especially in children, and in adults particularly in relation to periodontal diseases. International collaboration is needed to ensure that oral aspects of HIV disease are taken into account in medical programmes and to integrate oral health care with the general care of the patient. It is important that all health care workers receive education and training on the relevance of oral health needs and the use of oral lesions as surrogate markers in HIV infection.     

Predictors of mental health in midlife and older Australian women: A multilevel investigation

The purpose of this article is to examine the factors associated with women's mental health. A random sample of 340 Australian women aged 40–55 completed surveys on menopausal and lifestyle factors and mental health at three time points. We used hierarchical models to show that decrements in mental health were associated with a corresponding increase in some midlife symptoms (p < .01), time (p < .01), and poor physical health (p < .01), but the effect was not permanent. In older women, mental health was associated with physical functioning, climacteric symptoms, and time, while individual variations in mental health score were largely explained by lifestyle factors.     

Exploring dimensions of oral health-related quality of life using experts–opinions

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is expected to be multidimensional. However, it is unknown what these dimensions are. This study aimed to explore the dimensional structure of OHRQoL using experts’ opinions. A conceptual model of oral health with seven dimensions (functional limitation; physical pain; psychological discomfort; physical, psychological, social disability; handicap) was provided to 14 health care professionals. They assigned each of 49 items of an OHRQoL questionnaire, the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), to the seven model dimensions. All 49 items could be assigned to one or more dimensions of OHRQoL. All seven dimensions of the conceptual model of oral health were identified: Functional limitation appeared 14 times, physical pain eight times, psychological discomfort 12 times, physical disability once, psychological disability four times, social disability nine times, and handicap once. This supported a seven-dimensional model of OHRQoL. However, when items were grouped into clusters with unique content, a smaller model appeared with the dimensions oral functions, orofacial pain, psychological impact, and social impact.     

Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life Among a Population-Based Sample of Cancer Patients

Health-related quality of life is an important outcome in cancer care. A few studies indicate that health literacy influences cancer patients’ health-related quality of life, but additional investigation is needed. The authors examined the relation between health literacy and health-related quality of life among cancer patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with cancer patients in Wisconsin during 2006–2007. Data on sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, health-related quality of life, and health literacy were obtained from the state's cancer registry and a mailed questionnaire. Regression analyses were used to characterize the association between health-related quality of life and health literacy. The study sample included 1,841 adults, newly diagnosed with lung, breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer in 2004 (response rate = 68%). Health-related quality of life was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General. Adjusting for confounders, higher health literacy was associated with greater health-related quality of life (p < .0001). Controlling for covariates, we found significant differences between those in the highest and lowest health literacy categories (p < .0001) and in the physical (p < .0001), functional (p < .0001), emotional (p < .0001), and social (p = .0007) well-being subscales. These associations exceeded the minimally important difference threshold for overall health-related quality of life and functional well-being. Health literacy is positively and independently associated with health-related quality of life among cancer patients. These findings support adoption of health literacy best practices by cancer care systems.     

Sleep problems, health-related quality of life, work functioning and health care utilization among the chronically ill

Objectives: To provide a comprehensive assessment of whether sleep problems among the chronically ill are associated with decrements in functional health and well-being, decreases in work functioning and increases in the use of health care services. Design: Cross-sectional survey of patients from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS), an observational study of functional health and well-being. Chronically ill patients (n = 3484) were sampled from health maintenance organizations, large multi-specialty groups, and solo or single-specialty group practices in Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Chronic illness subgroups include: clinical depression (n = 527), congestive heart failure (229), diabetes (n = 577), recent myocardial infarction (n = 170), hypertension (n = 2206), asthma (n = 84), back problems (n = 771), and arthritis (n = 672). ANCOVA analyses of the relationship between sleep problems and SF-36 scales and summaries were performed. In addition, a ‘relative impact’ analysis determined what scales or summaries were most associated with sleep problems. Main outcome measures: Eight scales and two summary measures from the SF-36 Health Survey, work productivity and work quality measures and self-reports of health care utilization. Results: Comparing chronically ill patients with no sleep problems to those with mild, moderate, or severe sleep problems revealed a direct association between sleep problems and decrements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured by SF-36 scales and summaries (MANOVA F 24.1; d.f. 24; p ≤ 0.0001). In addition, significant differences in HRQOL were found when comparing patients with and without sleep problems within most of the disease groups studied. The relative impact analysis revealed that measures of mental health and the mental health summary were most associated with sleep problem severity in the total sample and chronic disease subsets, in comparison with measures of physical health. In addition, monotonic relationships were found between severity of sleep problems and decreases in work productivity and increases in health care utilization, as expected. Conclusions: The analyses revealed that sleep problems go hand in hand with poorer mental health, diminished work productivity and work quality and greater use of health care services. Sleep problems, therefore, may be a significant confounding factor in the interpretation of health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in symptoms and health-related quality of life in a nationally representative sample of adults in treatment for HIV

Patient-centered measures of functioning and well-being are needed to monitor and improve health for HIV-infected persons. We estimated the associations between HRQOL and symptoms over time in HIV-infected persons, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics using a longitudinal study of a nationally representative cohort of 2267 patients in care for HIV infection surveyed in 1996 and again in 1998. We used two global measures of HRQOL (overall health and overall quality of life) scored to have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 in the sample. The total number of symptoms decreased (−1.29, p<0.001 for the difference), and overall health (1.09, p<0.001 for the difference) and overall quality of life (1.31, p<0.001 for the difference) improved over the period. Controlling for baseline symptoms and HRQOL, each additional symptom at follow-up (B=−1.14, p<0.001) was associated with worsened overall health and worsened overall quality of life (B=−0.95, p<0.001). The association of two additional symptoms with lower global HRQOL was similar in magnitude to the effect of having significant depressive symptoms or the diagnosis of AIDS. In conclusion, among HIV-infected patients, symptoms are significantly related to HRQOL over time. The functioning and well-being of patients with HIV is inextricably linked to the symptoms they experience.     

Oral conditions and quality of life

Oral conditions can have serious, disabling effects. The purposes of this study are 2-fold: first to estimate the prevalence and severity of self-reported oral problems in male veterans who use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient medical (but not dental) care and, second, we examine to what extent the impact of oral conditions is associated with measures of general health and well-being. Male veteran users of outpatient VA medical care from the Veterans Health Study (N = 2425) were surveyed using questionnaires, which included sociodemographic information, the SF-36, the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), and the Oral Health and Quality of Life (OHQOL) measure. Only 28% of these users of VA outpatient care rated their oral health as excellent or very good, 32% as good, and nearly 40% as fair or poor. Furthermore, only one half of respondents could always eat without discomfort, were pleased with the looks of their teeth, and had no worries about their teeth. Factor analysis of the SF-36, GOHAI, and OHQOL items confirmed that both the GOHAI and the OHQOL are separate and independent of the 8 scales of the SF-36. Regression analyses showed that the GOHAI but not the OHQOL is significantly associated with the mental and physical component summary scales of the SF-36 when both sociodemographics and disease burden are controlled for in the models. Oral problems, as measured by the GOHAI and the OHQOL, are significant burdens on the health and function of veterans who use VA outpatient care. Oral health, as measured by the GOHAI, contributes in an important way to the functional well-being of users of VA healthcare.     

Development of physical and mental health summary scores from the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) global items

Background  The use of global health items permits an efficient way of gathering general perceptions of health. These items provide useful summary information about health and are predictive of health care utilization and subsequent mortality. Methods  Analyses of 10 self-reported global health items obtained from an internet survey as part of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) project. We derived summary scores from the global health items. We estimated the associations of the summary scores with the EQ-5D index score and the PROMIS physical function, pain, fatigue, emotional distress, and social health domain scores. Results  Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model. Global physical health (GPH; 4 items on overall physical health, physical function, pain, and fatigue) and global mental health (GMH; 4 items on quality of life, mental health, satisfaction with social activities, and emotional problems) scales were created. The scales had internal consistency reliability coefficients of 0.81 and 0.86, respectively. GPH correlated more strongly with the EQ-5D than did GMH (r = 0.76 vs. 0.59). GPH correlated most strongly with pain impact (r = −0.75) whereas GMH correlated most strongly with depressive symptoms (r = −0.71). Conclusions  Two dimensions representing physical and mental health underlie the global health items in PROMIS. These global health scales can be used to efficiently summarize physical and mental health in patient-reported outcome studies.     

Associations of psychosocial working conditions with self-rated general health and mental health among municipal employees

Objectives: To examine associations of job demands and job control, procedural and relational organizational fairness, and physical work load with self-rated general health and mental health. In addition, the effect of occupational class on these associations is examined. Methods: The data were derived from the Helsinki Health Study baseline surveys in 2001–2002. Respondents to cross-sectional postal surveys were middle-aged employees of the City of Helsinki (n=5.829, response rate 67%). Associations of job demands and job control, organizational fairness and physical work load with less than good self-rated health and poor GHQ-12 mental health were examined. Results: Those with the poorest working conditions two to three times more, often reported poor general and mental health than those with the best working conditions. Adjustment for occupational class weakened the associations of low job control and physical work load with general health by one fifth, but even more strengthened that of high job demands. Adjustment for occupational class clearly strengthened the associations of job control and physical work load with mental health in men. Mutual adjustment for all working conditions notably weakened their associations with both health measures, except those of job control in men. All working conditions except relational organizational fairness remained independently associated with general and mental health. Conclusions: All studied working conditions were strongly associated with both general and mental health but the associations weakened after mutual adjustments. Of the two organizational fairness measures, procedural fairness remained independently associated with both health outcomes. Adjustment for occupational class had essentially different effects on the associations of different working conditions and different health outcomes.     

Psychosocial job adversity and health in Australia: analysis of data from the HILDA Survey

Objective: This study examines measures of psychosocial job quality developed from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, and reports on associations with physical and mental health. Methods: The study used seven waves of data from the HILDA Survey with 5,548 employed respondents. Longitudinal random‐intercept regression models assessed the association of time‐varying and between‐person measures of psychosocial job quality job adversity with physical and mental health. Results: Respondents’ specific experience of psychosocial job adversity, except marketability, was associated with increased risk of mental health problems, whereas the association between psychosocial job adversity and physical health was largely driven by differences between people. Conclusions and Implications: Moving into jobs with different psychosocial quality is associated with changes in mental health. In contrast, individuals with poor physical health show an increased propensity to work in poor‐quality jobs but it seems that changes in physical health are not as strongly tied to changes in job quality. Differences in the relationship between physical and mental health and psychosocial job quality have implications for the design of employment, health and social policy. The HILDA Survey is an important resource for policy development in Australia, and the availability of valid measures of psychosocial of job quality will enhance its use to better understand this important determinant and correlate of health.     

Psychosocial Functioning and Depressive Symptoms Among HIV-Positive Persons Receiving Care and Treatment in Kenya,Namibia, and Tanzania

In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is considerably greater than that among members of the general population. It is particularly important to treat depressive symptoms among PLHIV because they have been associated with poorer HIV care-related outcomes. This study describes overall psychosocial functioning and factors associated with depressive symptoms among PLHIV attending HIV care and treatment clinics in Kenya, Namibia, and Tanzania. Eighteen HIV care and treatment clinics (six per country) enrolled approximately 200 HIV-positive patients (for a total of 3,538 participants) and collected data on patients’ physical and mental well-being, medical/health status, and psychosocial functioning. Although the majority of participants did not report clinically significant depressive symptoms (72 %), 28 % reported mild to severe depressive symptoms, with 12 % reporting severe depressive symptoms. Regression models indicated that greater levels of depressive symptoms were associated with: (1) being female, (2) younger age, (3) not being completely adherent to HIV medications, (4) likely dependence on alcohol, (5) disclosure to three or more people (versus one person), (6) experiences of recent violence, (7) less social support, and (8) poorer physical functioning. Participants from Kenya and Namibia reported greater depressive symptoms than those from Tanzania. Approximately 28 % of PLHIV reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. The scale-up of care and treatment services in sub-Saharan Africa provides an opportunity to address psychosocial and mental health needs for PLHIV as part of comprehensive care.     

Do differences in methods for constructing SF-36 physical and mental health summary measures change their associations with chronic medical conditions and utilization?

Background and objective: Various approaches have been employed to derive physical health and mental health summary scores for the SF-36 and the RAND-36, but head-to-head comparisons of alternative scoring algorithms are rare. We determined whether the associations of the physical and mental health summary scores with chronic medical conditions and utilization would differ depending on the scoring algorithm used. Methods: We examined 5701 patients receiving medical care from an independent association of 48 physician groups located primarily in the western United States and compared SF-36 and RAND-36 scoring of physical health and mental health summary scores. Associations with the presence of diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, as well as with utilization of medical care and mental health care were compared using bivariate and multivariate analysis. To examine the relationship between SF-36 and RAND-36 scores, we regressed the SF-36 physical and mental health composite scores on the RAND-36 physical and mental health summary measures and vice versa. Results: We found that the SF-36 and RAND-36 summary scores generally yielded results similar to one another across measures of heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, as well as measures of utilization. However, for each chronic medical condition, the RAND-36 showed a slightly larger decrement in mental health than did the SF-36. Conclusions: Differences between the two sets of summary scores were consistent with their respective conceptual and analytic approaches. Where comparisons of results between the SF-36 and RAND-36 summary scores are desirable in future studies, they can be estimated using the regression equations derived in this study.     

Physical health,mental health,and behaviour problems among early adolescents in foster care

Background Adolescents with chronic illness in the general population are at increased risk of mental health and behaviour problems. Depression is also associated with delinquency. Adolescents in foster care are more at risk for chronic illness and mental health issues. We investigated whether adolescents in long‐term foster care with chronic illness have associated higher rates of internalizing and externalizing problems and delinquency. We also investigated if depression mediates the relationship between physical health and externalizing behaviours. Methods Data are from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well‐Being; adolescents age 11 and older residing in long‐term foster care (n= 188). Children whose caregivers reported on the occurrence of a chronic illness were compared using anova on internalizing and externalizing subscale scores and total scores of the Youth Self Report (YSR) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and modified Self‐Report of Delinquency (MSRD) scores of delinquency and total number of delinquent acts. Bootstrapping analyses were used to test our hypothesis that depressive symptoms (Children's Depression Inventory) function as a mediator. Results Adolescents with a chronic illness reported greater internalizing (YSR: F= 7.069, P= 0.009; CBCL: F= 4.660, P= 0.032) and externalizing (YSR: F= 5.878, P= 0.016; CBCL: F= 3.546, P= 0.061) problems, a greater number of delinquent acts (6.66, F= 5.049, P= 0.026) and heightened overall delinquency (F= 5.049, P= 0.026). Depression significantly mediated the effects of overall health on delinquency (95% CI, 0.03–1.76). Conclusions It is important to consider the complex interrelationships between physical health, mental health, and behaviour for adolescents in foster care. These findings support the need for comprehensive services for these youths, including specialized assessments and collaboration between protective services and healthcare systems.     

Improvements in health-related quality of life following a group intervention for coping with AIDS-bereavement among HIV-infected men and women

Background: AIDS-related bereavement is a severe life stressor that may be particularly distressing to persons themselves infected with HIV. Increasing evidence suggests that psychological health is associated with disease progression, HIV-related symptoms, and mortality. Purpose: This study assessed change in health-related quality of life among HIV+ persons following a group intervention for coping with AIDS-related loss. Methods: The sample included 235 HIV+ men and women of diverse ethnicities and sexual orientations who had experienced an AIDS-related loss within the previous 2 years. Participants were randomly assigned to a 12-week cognitive-behavioral bereavement coping group intervention or offered individual psychotherapy upon request. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and 2 weeks after the intervention. Results: Participants in the group intervention demonstrated improvements in general health-related and HIV-specific quality of life, while those in the comparison remained the same or deteriorated. Effect sizes indicated that the majority of change occurred in women. Conclusion: This bereavement group aimed at improving coping with grief also had a positive impact on health-related quality of life among HIV+ men and women, and suggests that cognitive-behavioral interventions may have a broad impact on both emotional and physical health.     

Health related quality of life among persons with HIV after the use of protease inhibitors

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of the use of HIV protease inhibitors on the quality of life among persons infected with HIV. Methods: Subjects were participants in the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program who had completed two annual participant surveys, one prior to initiating therapy with a protease inhibitor and one after. Quality of life was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (MOS-SF). Statistical analyses were conducted using parametric and multivariate methods. Results: Our analysis was based on 179 HIV-positive individuals. Compared to quality of life at baseline, we found no statistically significant changes in the health perception, pain, physical, role and social functioning MOS-SF subscale scores at follow-up. The measure of mental health was the only component to decline significantly over time. Sub-analyses found significant increases in the measures of health perception (p = 0.004), physical (p = 0.037), role (p < 0.001) and social functioning (p = 0.053) for individuals with a low baseline quality of life. For those with a higher quality of life before starting a protease inhibitor containing regimen we observed a significant decline in the subscales of mental health (p = 0.001), physical (p = 0.007), role (p = 0.021) and social functioning (p = 0.003) over the study period. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that despite strict dosage requirements and adverse side effects associated with protease inhibitor use patients are on the whole maintaining their quality of life after starting on a protease inhibitor containing regimen. Continued follow-up of this cohort will be required to determine the long term implications of these observations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spiritual Well-Being and Mental Health Outcomes in Adolescents With or Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PurposeThe purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to describe spiritual well-being (existential and religious well-being) in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) versus healthy peers; 2) to examine associations of spiritual well-being with mental health outcomes (emotional functioning and depressive symptoms); and 3) to assess the differential impact of existential versus religious well-being on mental health.MethodsA total of 155 adolescents aged 11–19 years from a children's hospital and a university hospital filled out questionnaires including the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Children's Depression Inventory–Short Form, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Covariates in multivariable models included demographics, disease status, and interactions.ResultsParticipants’ mean (SD) age was 15.1 (2.0) years; 80 (52%) were male; and 121 (78%) were of white ethnicity. Levels of existential and religious well-being were similar between adolescents with IBD and healthy peers. In multivariable analyses, existential well-being was associated with mental health (partial R² change = .08–.11, p < .01) above and beyond other characteristics (total R² = .23, p < .01). Presence of disease moderated both the relationship between existential well-being and emotional functioning and that between religious well-being and depressive symptoms: that is, the relationships were stronger in adolescents with IBD as compared with healthy peers. Religious well-being was only marginally significantly associated with mental health after controlling for other factors.ConclusionsAlthough both healthy adolescents and those with IBD had high levels of spiritual well-being, having IBD moderated the relationship between spiritual well-being and mental health. Meaning/purpose was related to mental health more than was connectedness to the sacred.     

Dental knowledge and oral health among middle-aged adults

Objective: Knowledge of oral disease prevention should lead to better oral health outcomes. The aims were to assess the association of dental knowledge and oral health. Methods: A random sample of 45–54 year‐olds from Adelaide, South Australia, was surveyed in 2004/05. Oral examinations provided data on caries. Results: A total of 879 persons returned questionnaires (response=43.8%) with 709 (80.7%) examined. The majority rated ‘seeing a dentist regularly’ (63.0%), ‘regular brushing of teeth’ (92.5%) and ‘using fluoride toothpaste’ (52.2%) as ‘definitely important’ in preventing tooth decay. The percentage of persons who had a high knowledge of tooth decay prevention was 59.9%. Multivariate analysis controlling for sex, place of birth, education and income showed (p<0.05) associations of high dental knowledge of tooth decay prevention with fewer decayed teeth (β=‐0.19) and more filled teeth (β=1.13). Conclusions: Dental knowledge was associated with oral health status. Implications: Conveying of information should be one part of oral health promotion actions to improve oral health.     

Implications of perceived physical and social aspects of the environment for self-reported physical and mental health

The purpose of the present study is to explore the relative importance of certain socio-demographic variables, perceived physical and social attributes of the home and neighborhood for self-reported physical and mental health. The sample of the present study comprised 137 men and women (51.83% women and 48.17% men) ranging in age from 26 to 54 years selected randomly from shoppers visiting a crowded shopping plaza. A sociodemographic data sheet, scales to measure perceptions of the physical environment and neighborhood characteristics, and the SF-36 to assess physical and mental health components were used. Data were analyzed using multivariate analyses of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. No age and gender differences in physical and mental health scores emerged (p < 0.05), but people who perceived their socio-economic status as low also reported lower total mental health scores (p < 0.05). No socioeconomic differences were noted on indices of physical health (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that negative perceptions of the interior home environment were associated negatively with physical and mental health scores (p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that perceived decay and disorganization in the home interior as well as perceived socioeconomic status accounted for a significant portion of the variance in mental health scores.     

Health-related quality-of-life and receipt of women-centered HIV care among women living with HIV in Canada

ABSTRACT

We measured health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the SF-12 among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Canada between August 2013 and May 2015. We investigated differences by perceived receipt of women-centered HIV care (WCHC), assessed using an evidence-based definition with a 5-point Likert item: “Overall, I think that the care I have received from my HIV clinic in the last year has been women-centered” (dichotomized into agree vs. disagree/neutral). Of 1308 participants, 26.3 percent were from British Columbia, 48.2 percent from Ontario, and 25.5 percent from Québec. The median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 36–51). Most (42.2 percent) were White, 29.4 percent African/Caribbean/Black, and 21.0 percent Indigenous. Overall, 53.4 percent perceived having received WCHC. Mean physical and mental HRQOL scores were 43.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 14.4) and 41.7 (SD = 14.2), respectively. Women perceiving having received WCHC had higher mean physical (44.7; SD = 14.0) and mental (43.7; SD = 14.1) HRQOL scores than those not perceiving having received WCHC (42.9; SD = 14.8 and 39.5; SD = 14.0, respectively; p < .001). In multivariable linear regression, perceived WCHC was associated with higher mental (β = 3.48; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.90, 5.06) but not physical HRQOL. Improving HRQOL among Canadian WLWH, which was lower than general population estimates, is needed, including examining the potential of WCHC as an effective model of clinical care.