Placebo HAART regimen as a method for teaching medication adherence issues to students.
Placebo medication regimens may help educate students about adherence issues. In this randomized trial, 23 third-year medical students took a 2-week placebo regimen mimicking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during their medicine clerkship; 15 students served as controls. Although no effect was demonstrated from this intervention on an evaluation instrument examining attitudes and beliefs about medication nonadherence, all 23 student-subjects agreed in postintervention interviews that the experience was useful and had learning value. Representative comments from the 19 subjects who expanded their interview responses portray this intervention as an eye-opening and unique method for teaching students about medication adherence issues.
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. esutton@u.washington.edu
Eliza L
EL
Sutton
Emily R
ER
Transue
Susan
S
Comes
Douglas S
DS
Paauw
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010919:Placebos