OBJECTIVE To present the development and validation of the WebAd-Q Questionnaire, a self-report instrument to monitor adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS centers in Brazil.METHODS The WebAd-Q is an electronic questionnaire that has three questions about the use of antiretrovirals in the last week. It was constructed from interviews and focus groups with 38 patients. Its validity was tested in a study with a sample of 90 adult patients on antiretroviral therapy for at least three months. We used electronic monitoring bottles, pill counting, and self-report interview to compare adherence. The WebAd-Q was answered on the sixtieth day, twice, with at least one hour of interval. The viral load of the patients was obtained from the service records. We have analyzed the agreement between the answers to the WebAd-Q, the associations, and the correlations with viral load and performance compared to other measures of adherence.RESULTS Among the invited patients, 74 (82.2%) answered the WebAd-Q. No difficulties were reported to answer the questionnaire. The average answer time was 5 min 47 sec. The set of three questions of the WebAd-Q obtained agreement of 89.8%, with Kappa of 0.77 (95%CI 0.61–0.94). The non-adherence answers of the WebAd-Q were associated with detectable viral load. We obtained moderate viral load correlations with the non-adherence scale according to the WebAd-Q. For the three questions of the WebAd-Q, patients with non-adherence answers were also reported as less adherent according to the other measures of adherence.CONCLUSIONS The WebAd-Q answered all the issues considered relevant in the validation of questionnaires, was well understood by patients, was associated with viral load, and obtained good agreement and good performance compared to the other measures. The feasibility analysis of its implementation still depends on a national study on its applicability.

Introduction:Patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical for HIV treatment success. Monitoring rates of adherence in public HIV outpatient care facilities can improve outcomes in Brazil where ART is universally available.Methods:We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of ART adherence in 2010. Participants were selected using a multistage probability sample. First, HIV outpatient care facilities were stratified according to 7 Organizational Quality Classification (OQC) groups and regions. Second, 1 or 2 facilities were selected per region for each OQC group. Finally, patients were randomly selected at each facility. In a first component, patients were invited to answer to a web-based questionnaire (WebAd-Q), a validated self-reported tool that includes 3 questions on adherence to ART in the past 7 days (time scheduling—timing, drug regimen—medication, and pill counts—dose), herein named indicators of potential nonadherence (IPN). In addition, a subsample of participants were interviewed in order to obtain further data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (second component). The proportion of each IPN was estimated using weighted data to account for the sampling design with 95% confidence interval (CI) and descriptive analysis was carried out.Results:Fifty-five facilities were chosen and 2424 patients completed the WebAd-Q in the first component of the study, while 598 patients were interviewed for the second component. The weighted proportions of the IPN were 50.9%, 31.8%, and 19.5%, for timing, medication, and dose, respectively, while11.7% had all 3 indicators, varying from 5.9% in the Southeast and 21.9% in the Northeast regions. Overall, 61.1% of the patients had at least 1 IPN (95% CI: 58.5–63.7%). Patients reporting depression symptoms, illicit drug use and those who missed medical appointments had worse nonadherence outcomes.Conclusions:Overall, there was a high proportion of all indicators IPN and timing was the main component associated with low adherence. Although these indicators may not necessarily indicate individual nonadherence, they represent a worrisome scenario in the public Brazilian HIV care facilities. On a routine basis, these facilities can identify gaps in providing counseling and ART orientation to their clientele and develop innovative strategies to prevent nonadherence.

Introduction: Care continuum models have supported recent strategies against sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV). Methods: HIV, HCV, and congenital syphilis care continuum models were developed, including all stages of care, from promotion/prevention to clinical control/cure. The models supported the intervention QualiRede, developed by a University-Brazilian National Health System (SUS) partnership focused on managers and other professionals from six priority health regions in São Paulo and Santa Catarina. Indicators were selected for each stage of the care continuum from the SUS information systems and from the Qualiaids and QualiAB facility’s process evaluation questionnaires. The indicators acted as the technical basis of two workshops with professionals and managers in each region: the first one to identify problems and to create a Regional Technical Group; and the second one to design action plans for improving regional performance. Results: The indicators are available at www.qualirede.org. The workshops took place in the regions of Alto Tietê, Baixada Santista, Grande ABC, and Registro (São Paulo) and of Foz do Rio Itajaí (Santa Catarina), which resulted in regional action plans in São Paulo, but not in Santa Catarina. A lack of awareness was observed regarding the new HIV and HCV protocols, as well as an incipient use of indicators in routine practices. Conclusion: Improving the performance of the care continuum requires appropriation of performance indicators and coordination of care flows at local, regional, and state levels of management.

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