title: HIV care engagement within 30 days after hospital discharge among patients from a Thai tertiary-care centre.
abstract: A cohort study was conducted to assess the rate of follow-up visit within 30 days after hospital discharge and to determine factors associated with no follow-up among Thai HIV-infected adults during the period from November 2012 to October 2013. Of the 120 eligible patients, 76 (63%) were males, median age was 40 years, and 57 (48%) were newly diagnosed with HIV infection. The rate of follow-up within 30 days after hospital discharge was 69%. Independent factors associated with no follow-up were no caregiver (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.82; p = 0.002), age (aOR 1.06; p = 0.007 for each year younger), being immigrant (aOR 5.10; p = 0.03) and monthly household income less than $US 300 (aOR 2.99; p = 0.04). These findings suggest the need for interventions to improve care engagement including close monitoring for follow-up, pre-discharge financial and medical coverage planning, assessment for the need for caregiver and patient education about the importance of care engagement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
authors.forename: Daruni Phalakawong Na
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ayudhya
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand thanak30@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Thana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khawcharoenporn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Thailand; antiretroviral therapy; care engagement; follow-up; hospital discharge; retention in care; treatment