title: Experiences and perceptions of patients with 100% adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy: a qualitative study.
abstract: A decade has passed since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as standard of care for HIV/AIDS patients. The success of HAART is largely dependent on almost 100% adherence to it. In this study our primary aim was to understand from patients' own perspectives and experiences what resulted in them having 100% adherence to HAART. Thus, we purposefully recruited for in-depth interviews 10 participants (7 men and 3 women) with 100% adherence to HAART (>/=6 months previous to the interviews). All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis approach. The following issues emerged from the analysis: readiness to go on HAART; HAART viewed as a life-line; maintenance of 100% adherence related with willingness to live longer and healthier; optimal ongoing patient-physician relationship, better coping and/or lack of perceived side effects; and improvements in clinical condition as well as in CD4 T-cells count and viral load reinforced the motivation to continue 100% adherence. The study findings should be helpful for health professionals caring for HIV-infected individuals on HAART.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. msidat@mshc.org.au
authors.forename: Mohsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidat
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grierson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015203:Reproducibility of Results