title: Knowledge of structured treatment interruption and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: We conducted a survey of 106 HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy at a community hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to determine the extent of patient knowledge and attitudes about structured treatment interruption (STI) and whether these were factors in adherence to antiretroviral regimens. Thirty-six percent of patients possessed knowledge of STI as a treatment option and four patients reported that they had stopped taking antiretroviral therapy without specific recommendation from their physician based on information they had heard or read about STI. There was no difference in median adherence based on whether a patient was aware of STI, however, in the group who had heard of STI, attitude that STI is very beneficial was correlated with greater adherence to medication. More than one third of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy possessed knowledge of STI, and this knowledge affected adherence to antiretroviral regimens. Providers caring for HIV-infected patients should routinely inquire about patient knowledge of STI as another factor in assessing adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. tacri@cceb.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Trisha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coco
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents