title: Health behavior predictors of medication adherence among low health literacy people living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: One particularly vulnerable population for HIV treatment non-adherence is persons with poor health literacy skills. For these individuals, it is important to simplify medication taking as much as possible by integrating medication adherence into other routine health behaviors. This study aims to ascertain the relationship between medication adherence and other health behaviors. Adults living with HIV (N = 422) completed intake measures and 3 months of unannounced pill counts. Endorsement of diet and exercise behaviors at intake predicted higher medication adherence, over and above other known predictors of medication adherence such as HIV symptoms, depression, social support, and stress. These results support integrating strategies for medication management into a constellation of routine health practices.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, USA Jennifer.pellowski@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pellowski
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Seth C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kalichman
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: HIV; diet; exercise; health behavior; medication adherence