title: Functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a study of the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence, as mediated by medication-taking self-efficacy, while controlling for the effect of key demographic variables (such as race, income and level of education).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Medication adherence is critical to successful HIV/AIDS self-management. Despite simplified regimens and the availability of tools to assist with medication-taking, adherence remains a challenge for many people living with HIV/AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, secondary analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study of 302 adults living with HIV/AIDS who were taking antiretroviral medications were collected from January 2004-December 2007. Medication adherence was measured using electronic event monitors. Bivariate analyses and stepwise regression were conducted to examine the associations among functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and HIV medication adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, functional health literacy was much higher than expected; however, adherence in this sample was sub-optimal. Higher medication-taking self-efficacy was associated with higher medication adherence; however, functional health literacy was not significantly related to either medication adherence or self-efficacy beliefs. Hence, medication-taking self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication adherence continues to be an issue for people living with HIV/AIDS. Additional research is needed to understand the disparate findings related to functional health literacy and medication adherence in this and other studies examining this association.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. colberta@duq.edu
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Colbert
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sereika
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Erlen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents