title: Treatment beliefs, illness perceptions, and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in an ethnically diverse patient population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethnic diversity is increasingly encountered in the HIV-infected population in North America, and it is unknown if beliefs surrounding illness and treatment vary among different ethnic groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objectives were to determine whether self-reported adherence, illness perceptions and treatment beliefs regarding HIV differ based on ethnicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted during outpatient HIV clinic visits between March 1, 2010 and April 30, 2010 at two hospital-based clinics in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional sample of 65 patients on antiretroviral therapy (34 Caucasian, 23 Aboriginal, and 8 from other ethnic groups) attending hospital-based clinics completed a self-administered survey; medical records were reviewed for demographic and treatment information.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ANOVA with covariates was performed to measure variation of beliefs and adherence between ethnic groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean self-reported adherence in the past week and past month was high (96 %) and the majority of patients (78.5 %) had a viral load <40 copies/mL. Patients had high perceived necessity scores and a low degree of perceived concern with antiretroviral therapy. In our study, treatment beliefs, illness perceptions, and self-reported adherence did not vary between ethnicities (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment beliefs, illness perceptions, and adherence appear to be largely similar in English-speaking patients with diverse ethnic backgrounds who have been on treatment for at least 3 months. Strong supports may overcome any cultural differences in treatment beliefs that were expected at the outset.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services, Alberta Health Services, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunther
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foisy
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guirguis
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents