title: Patterns, correlates, and barriers to medication adherence among persons prescribed new treatments for HIV disease.
abstract: New treatments for HIV can improve immune functioning and decrease mortality. However, lapses in adherence may render these complex regimens ineffective. Sixty-three men and 9 women on highly active antiretroviral therapy completed measures of medication adherence, psychological characteristics, and barriers to adherence. HIV viral load, a health outcome measure of virus amount present in blood, was also obtained. The sample was 36% African American and 56% Caucasian, with 35% reporting disability. Nearly one third of patients had missed medication doses in the past 5 days, and 18% had missed doses weekly over the past 3 months. Frequency of missed doses was strongly related to detectable HIV viral loads. Depression, side-effect severity, self-efficacy, and social support distinguished patients with good and poor adherence. Barriers also varied with adherence level. Implications for interventions promoting HIV treatment adherence are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53202, USA. scatz@mcw.edu
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Catz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bogart
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Benotsch
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents