Using electronic drug monitor feedback to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive patients in China.
Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) requires excellent adherence. Little is known about how to improve ART adherence in many HIV/AIDS-affected countries, including China. We therefore assessed an adherence intervention among HIV-positive patients in southwestern China. Eighty subjects were enrolled and monitored for 6 months. Sixty-eight remaining subjects were randomized to intervention/control arms. In months 7-12, intervention subjects were counseled using EDM feedback; controls continued with standard of care. Among randomized subjects, mean adherence and CD4 count were 86.8 vs. 83.8% and 297 vs. 357 cells/microl in intervention vs. control subjects, respectively. At month 12, among 64 subjects who completed the trial, mean adherence had risen significantly among intervention subjects to 96.5% but remained unchanged in controls. Mean CD4 count rose by 90 cells/microl and declined by 9 cells/microl among intervention and control subjects, respectively. EDM feedback as a counseling tool appears promising for management of HIV and other chronic diseases.
Sabin
Lora L
LL
Center for International Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. lsabin@bu.edu
DeSilva
Mary Bachman
MB
Hamer
Davidson H
DH
Xu
Keyi
K
Zhang
Jianbo
J
Li
Tao
T
Wilson
Ira B
IB
Gill
Christopher J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002681:China; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004582:Electronics, Medical; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors