title: Enhancing HIV medication adherence in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This pilot study evaluated an intervention designed to enhance adherence among those new to antiretroviral therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 80) were recruited from a hospital clinic in Chandigarh, India, and randomized to a 3-month group intervention or individual enhanced standard of care followed by crossover of condition and assessed over 6 months. Adherence was measured by prescription refill, pill count, and self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, 56% of group condition (immediate intervention) and 54% of individual condition (delayed intervention) participants were nonadherent by pill count and 23% of group and 26% of individual condition participants self-reported skipping medication at least once over the last 3 months. From the postintervention to long-term follow-up, adherence in the group condition (immediate intervention) improved in comparison with adherence in the individual condition (delayed intervention; χ(2) = 5.67, P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support the use of interventions early in treatment to provide information and social support to establish long-term healthy adherence behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Drenna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waldrop-Valverde
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nehra
authors.forename: Szonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vamos
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents