title: Long-term Medication Adherence in Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Drug Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A long-term medication adherence project was designed and implemented in an urban HIV clinic to address antiretroviral medication adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study of patients on long-term antiretroviral therapy. Referred patients were on antiretroviral agents at least six months and had two consecutive detectable viral loads. A standarized form was utilized to assess medication adherence, including patient report, practitioner assessed barriers, and pharmacy refill history. Individualized interventions were developed to accommodate patient needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight patients met inclusion criteria for a total of 81 cases per study protocol. The majority of cases had an identifiable cause related to missed and/or mistimed doses. Following adherence interventions, 51 of the 81 cases (63%) experienced a successful outcome. In addition, 16 of the 27 cases (59%) without an identifiable cause became undetectable following intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel approach demonstrates that a proactive method for addressing barriers to long-term medication adherence yields improved patient understanding and preservation of treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: HIV Program, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Preininger
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cantwell-McNelis
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Mary Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bincsik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents