Psychosocial predictors of medication adherence among persons living with HIV.
BACKGROUND
Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), many have learned to live with HIV as a chronic illness. Adherence to medical regimens is extremely important for HIV patients.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the extent to which medication adherence among HIV patients is related to social and psychological variables.


METHODS
Data were gathered among 127 HIV patients (aged from 18-65 years) recruited at their quarterly consultation at Metz Hospital (France). Subjects completed a self-report adherence to medication scale, the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ), a French Value System Scale, a treatment satisfaction scale, and sociodemographic measures.


RESULTS
Analyses revealed significant associations between adherence and patients' beliefs about treatment, satisfaction with treatment, confidence in the physician, some values ("other people," "god and children"), and duration of treatment and illness.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that patients' beliefs about treatment are formed to a certain degree in the patients' relationship with the physician. Furthermore, adherence seems to be related to personal values.
Gauchet
Aurélie
A
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751, USA. GauchetA@aol.com
Tarquinio
Cyril
C
Fischer
Gustave
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D012927:Social Control, Informal
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents