Evaluation of HIV/AIDS patients' knowledge on antiretroviral drugs

Abstract

Lack of information on antiretroviral drugs or the misunderstanding of available information can facilitate incorrect use of such drugs. This can result in non-adherence to the prescribed regimen, leading to a great possibility of a therapeutic failure. The aim of this study was to know which information HIV/AIDS patients, who receive their medicines at the pharmacy of a reference hospital in the northeast Brazil, have on the drugs they use, the source of this information and whether there is a need for additional information. A total of 195 HIV/AIDS patients, who were using either zidovudina + lamivudina 300+150 mg (AZT+3TC), efavirenz 600 mg (EFZ) or lopinavir/ritonavir 133.33/33 mg (LPV/r), were interviewed. The mean age was 41 years (SD = 9.55) and 70.8% were males. Of the total, 55.4% didn't know the effect of the drug in the organism; 35.9% were unaware of the necessity of taking antiretroviral drugs for the rest of their lives; only 14.4% knew how to proceed when a dosage was missed; 22.1% said they could die and the same number of individuals believed in aggravation of the disease in case of treatment interruption. The majority, 68.2%, considered it very necessary to receive drug information. The results show that there is an apparent lack of general information among users of antiretroviral drugs, and at the same time a need for it. It is necessary that all professionals involved in the health care of the patients agree that an efficient supply of information on prescribed drugs is an ethical component of the treatment that favors and fosters its adherence.

Knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy among patients at a Nigerian treatment clinic

“…These findings indicate that there is an urgent need to educate PLWHA on the modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS. Previous studies have shown that the level of knowledge about the mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS affects attitudes about HIV/AIDS transmission [19,26]. This lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and ART is probably a concern not just for the PLWHA but for the general population and perhaps a reason for continuing HIV transmission in our population.…”

Health-information needs of HIV-positive adults in Latin America and the Caribbean: an integrative review of the literature

“…One study’s participants were adults over the age of 15, rather than 18, but the article was included because the focus was on adult health-information needs and included a large ( n = 841) adult sample (Gogna, Pecheny, Ibarlucía, Manzelli, & López, 2009). The final sample thus consisted of 11 articles (Almeida & Vieira, 2009; Alva et al, 2007; Araya et al, 2013; Boryc et al, 2010; Cardona-Arias, 2010; Curioso & Kurth, 2007; Gogna et al, 2009; Jacobson et al, 2012; Llanos Zavalaga et al, 2006; Reid, Nielsen, & Reddock, 2010; Sanchez et al, 2009). …”

“…Some focused on specific concerns, such as oral or reproductive health (Gogna et al, 2009; Sanchez et al, 2009), or on treatment information (Almeida & Vieira, 2009), while others focused on general health-information needs (Araya et al, 2013; Jacobson et al, 2012). Other studies considered information needs from a health services improvement perspective (Boryc et al, 2010; Cardona-Arias, 2010; Llanos Zavalaga et al, 2006; Reid et al, 2010).…”

“…Four of the articles used a quantitative approach employing surveys or previously validated questionnaires (Almeida & Vieira, 2009; Alva et al, 2007; Jacobson et al, 2012; Sanchez et al, 2009). Three used a qualitative approach with guided in-depth interviews (Araya et al, 2013; Curioso & Kurth, 2007) or with a series of interviews with participant and non-participant observation (Cardona-Arias, 2010).…”

“…General information about HIV, its symptoms, illness trajectory, and lab results were commonly expressed information needs (Alva et al, 2007; Araya et al, 2013; Curioso & Kurth, 2007; Jacobson et al, 2012). More knowledge regarding antiretroviral medications was also desirable (Almeida & Vieira, 2009; Alva et al, 2007; Araya et al, 2013; Gogna et al, 2009; Llanos Zavalaga et al, 2006; Reid et al, 2010). Additionally, many participants identified a need for information about other sexually transmitted infections (Alva et al, 2007; Reid et al, 2010) or about secondary infections (Sanchez et al, 2009).…”