title: [Measuring treatment compliance in patients with HIV in Bangui, Central African Republic].
abstract: The purpose of this trial was to test a simple method of measuring and identifying non-compliance with antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and cotrimoxazole (CTX) prophylaxis in a resource-limited setting. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among HIV patients attending two outpatient clinics in Bangui, Central African Republic. Compliance with ARV and CTX treatment was assessed based on 5 measurement modalities, i.e., skipping medication during the 4 days prior to attendance, attendance assiduity, number of remaining tablets, patient visual analogue scale (VAS), and physician VAS. These measures were combined to obtain an overall medication compliance score. A total of 141 patients were interviewed including 89 using ARV and 52 using CTX. Compliance scores varied according to measurement modality from 66.3% to 96.6% for ARV and from 67.3% to 90.4% for CTX. The only significant difference between patients using ARV and CTX involved physician VAS that was significantly lower for CTX than ARV (p=0.04). Overall medication compliance scores classified 117 patients (83%) as compliant and 21 patients (17%) as non-compliant. According to this study the level of medication compliance was relatively good (83%). Findings also indicated that measurement of compliance was feasible using a combination of remaining tablet count and assessment of medication skipping in the last 4 or 7 days. Routine clinical use of these modalities allows assessment and improvement of medication compliance.
authors.affiliation: ESTHER (C.M., J.L.R., Medecins de santepublique), Paris, de l'association Amis d'Afrique, Bangui.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mouala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaba-Mebri
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fikouma
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wata
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gabrie
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rey
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002488:Central African Republic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination