Self-efficacy and ability to read as factors associated with antiretroviral therapy adherence in an HIV-infected population. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dworkin, Mark S; Chakraborty, Apurba; Zychowski, Diana; Donenberg, Geri; Novak, Richard; Garofalo, Robert
• Is Part Of: International journal of STD & AIDS. Volume 29:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: 1154
• Page End: 1164
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: HAART -- antiretroviral medications -- medication adherence -- substance use; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.951
• DOI: 10.1177/0956462418776073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-4624

Abstract

Determining the barriers and facilitators of antiretroviral adherence among former and current substance users may be useful in the creation of successful interventions that target this hard-to-reach population. We performed a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected patients (N = 123) prescribed antiretroviral therapy at four Chicago healthcare venues. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed to determine factors associated with non-adherence based on definitions of non-adherence (any missed doses) within the past 4-day, 14-day, and 1-month time periods. Factors consistently associated with non-adherence in bivariate and multivariate analyses, regardless of duration of non-adherence definition, were lower confidence in taking medication consistently and less self-reported ability to read. These data reveal the importance of self-efficacy and ability to read (rather than specific knowledge of CD4 and viral load definitions) in the design of interventions in a population of HIV-infected persons with significant substance use.