title: Supportive relationships and medication adherence in HIV-infected, low-income Latinos.
abstract: Inadequate social support and poor communications with health care providers can affect adherence to antiretroviral therapy. The magnitude of independent effects of these factors on adherence is not fully known. This study examined the relationship of perceived emotional or informational social support from family and friends, quality of physician-patient communications and relationships, and medication adherence in a sample of low-income, Spanish-speaking, HIV-positive Latino men and women receiving treatment in community-based clinics (n = 85). Results of the study indicated that, whereas emotional or informational support was significantly associated with level of dose adherence (OR, 1.04, 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; p = .03), quality of physician-patient communications or relationships was significantly associated with adherence to medication schedule,t(6, 71) = 4.45,p < .001. Quality of patient-physician relationship accounted for 22% of the variance in adherence to medication schedule. Both kinds of support were associated with better adherence in this population but may affect adherence behaviors in different ways.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Servellen
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents