HIV-related knowledge and adherence to HAART

Abstract

Near perfect adherence is considered essential for patients on HAART, yet adherence to medical recommendations is rarely so high. Supportive services and reminder tools may help individuals to become adherent, yet it is difficult to determine who may need such interventions. In this study, based on data from the NYSDOH/AIDS Institute Treatment Adherence Demonstration Program, we look at the association between HIV-related knowledge and adherence, hypothesizing that a better understanding of HIV and its treatment is associated with better adherence. In analyses based on 997 participants, knowledge, as measured by five true/false questions, was significantly associated with self-reported adherence. In multivariate analysis, compared to persons with four or five items answered correctly, persons with fewer correct answers were more likely to report missed doses (OR = 1.72 for 2-3 correct, p < 0.01; OR = 2.92 for 0-1 correct, p < 0.05). Our data suggest that providers should include questions focused on knowledge of HIV in their assessments of medication readiness and need for adherence support. Similarly, providers should be diligent with respect to patient education, ensuring that each patient has the information needed to support reasoned decision making and adequate adherence.

Immunosuppression among HIV‐1‐positive patients attending for care: experience from two large HIV centres in the United Kingdom

“…Psychological and social factors, and beliefs about and experience of ART have all been shown in other studies to be important in patient adherence to therapy [20,[23][24][25]. Strategies to improve adherence including directly observed therapy, pharmacist-assisted interventions, treatment advice clinics, treatment of mental illness, cognitive behavioural and educational interventions to improve patient knowledge around HIV and frequent home visits have been implemented with varying success [26][27][28][29][30][31][32].…”

An Educational Intervention with Hispanic HIV Infected Patients: A Randomized Study

“…A larger study conducted in recipients of Ryan White care in Miami found similar rates of (35%) individuals with less than high school education and would suggest that absence of high school education in HIV infected individuals may not be limited to Hispanic patients [16]. Related findings from other studies have found an association between lower literacy and lower HIV treatment adherence and knowledge in HIV infected patients [17][18][19] including knowledge of relevant disease parameters [20,21]. These findings along with those of the present study imply that low literacy, a commons equelae of limited or poor quality education, is a barrier to adequate HIV knowledge.…”

Evaluating the Impact of Educational Interventions on Use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Adherence Behavior in Indian Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Patients: Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

“…Our study results also show similar positive significant association of greater than 95% of adherence outcomes to HAART in ICG patients (67.5%, p<0.001) after having received EIs on adherence counseling in comparison with SCG. [25][26][27].…”