Posts
Thanks to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, "HIV has become better characterized as a chronic disease rather than a terminal illness, depending in part on one's ability to maintain relatively high levels of adherence," the authors wrote. Research has explored barriers and facilitators of ARV adherence behavior; however, "relatively little is known about specific challenges faced by HIV-positive persons who report 'taking a break' from their ARV medications."In the current study, the researchers used the "Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model" of ARV adherence to examine the adherence-related barriers that may differentiate non-adherent patients who report "taking a break" from ARVs versus those who do not report doing so.
A population of 327 HIV-positive patients reporting less than 100 percent adherence at baseline was studied. Patients classified as intentionally non-adherent were those who reported "taking a break" from their medications without first discussing their plans with a health care provider. Non-adherent patients who did not report "taking a break" were classified as unintentionally non-adherent. The differences between these two populations - with respect to demographic characteristics and responses to the adherence-related information, motivation, and behavioral skills questions - were analyzed.
The results revealed few differences among the groups in demographics, adherence-related information or adherence-related motivation; "however, significant differences were observed on about half of the adherence-related behavioral skills items," the authors reported.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
Together We Remain Strong!
