Enhancing HIV Medication Adherence in India. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Deborah; Sharma, Aman; Kumar, Mahendra; Waldrop-Valverde, Drenna; Nehra, Ritu; Vamos, Szonja; Cook, Ryan; Weiss, Stephen M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Volume 12:Number 5(2013)
• Page Start: 343
• Page End: 348
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: India -- adherence -- intervention -- assessment -- behavior; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1177/1545109712446177
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9574

Abstract

Background: This pilot study evaluated an intervention designed to enhance adherence among those new to antiretroviral therapy. Methods: Participants (n = 80) were recruited from a hospital clinic in Chandigarh, India, and randomized to a 3-month group intervention or individual enhanced standard of care followed by crossover of condition and assessed over 6 months. Adherence was measured by prescription refill, pill count, and self-report. Results: At baseline, 56% of group condition (immediate intervention) and 54% of individual condition (delayed intervention) participants were nonadherent by pill count and 23% of group and 26% of individual condition participants self-reported skipping medication at least once over the last 3 months. From the postintervention to long-term follow-up, adherence in the group condition (immediate intervention) improved in comparison with adherence in the individual condition (delayed intervention; χ 2 = 5.67, P = .02). Conclusions: Results support the use of interventions early in treatment to provide information and social support to establish long-term healthy adherence behaviors.