Expressive writing intervention on optimism and coping modes of newly diagnosed people with human immunodeficiency virus: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of expressive writing intervention on optimism and coping modes of newly diagnosed people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: A total of 84 newly diagnosed people with HIV in the care clinic of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups with 42 patients in each group for a randomized controlled trial. The control group received 8-week regular health education and psychological guidance. The test group received an 8-week expressive writing intervention in addition to regular health education and psychological guidance. The life orientation test revised (LOT-R) and the medical coping mode questionnaire (MCMQ) were used to evaluate the optimistic tendency and coping modes of newly diagnosed people with HIV, respectively. The trial protocol and all amendments were approved by the Institutional Review Board of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu (PJ-K2020-36-01). This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with registration (ChiCTR2200064585). RESULTS: After the intervention, significant differences were found in the scores of LOT-R and MCMQ between the 2 groups (P <.05). Before and after the intervention, no significant difference was found in the scores of LOT-R and MCMQ in the control group (P >.05), but significant differences were found in the scores of LOT-R and MCMQ in the test group (P <.05). CONCLUSION: The expressive writing intervention would improve optimism and promote more positive coping modes for newly diagnosed people with HIV.