title: Evaluation of adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Italian HIV patients.
abstract: We studied factors associated with treatment adherence in 88 male and 21 female adults (age range, 24-65 years) with HIV infection undergoing therapy with HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs) in Italy. Data on sociodemographic variables, clinical and psychological symptoms, treatment compliance, physician/patient relationship, and psychosocial characteristics were obtained by means of semistructured interviews. Every subject also compiled two self-report questionnaires: Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences (COPE) and Medical Outcomes Study-HIV (MOS-HIV) in order to evaluate the use of coping strategies and quality of life. We found a high rate of adherence to HIV therapies (almost 90% of patients had taken at least 80% of medication in the previous 7 days). No significant differences were found between adherence and nonadherence groups as measured by self-report. Few significant differences were found when data laboratory were used. When a Bonferroni corrected p level of <0.001 was used, only a comparison on Mental Disengagement subscale of COPE was statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. stella.dorz@unipd.it
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorz
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzarini
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cattelan
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meneghetti
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Novara
authors.forename: Ercole
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Concia
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanavio
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors