Assessing and achieving readiness to initiate HIV medication.
OBJECTIVE
To summarise published HIV-specific research on readiness theories, factors influencing readiness, instruments to measure readiness and interventions to increase readiness for treatment.


METHODS
Medline and PsychInfo were searched until August 2004.


RESULTS
Two HIV-specific readiness theories were identified. Fear of side effects, emotions emerging from the diagnosis and lack of trust in the physician were some barriers to overcome in order to reach readiness. Of the three measurement instruments found, the index of readiness showed the most promise. Multi-step intervention programs to increase readiness for HIV treatment had been investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
Readiness instruments may be useful tools in clinical practice but the predictive validity of the instruments needs to be further established in the HIV-infected population.


CONCLUSIONS
Readiness instruments and practice placebo trials may serve as complements to routine care, since health care providers currently have no better than chance probability in identifying those patients who are ready to adhere.
Nordqvist
Ola
O
Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Södergård
Björn
B
Tully
Mary Patricia
MP
Sönnerborg
Anders
A
Lindblad
Asa Kettis
AK
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009341:Negativism; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011582:Psychological Theory; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents