Enhancing HIV medication adherence in India

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Deborah Jones, University of Miami; Aman Sharma, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India; Mahendra Kumar, University of Miami; Drenna Waldrop-Valverde, Emory University; Ritu Nehra, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India; Szonja Vamos, University of Miami; Ryan Cook, University of Miami; Stephen M. Weiss, University of Miami
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-09-01
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © (2014) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1545109712446177
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
• ISSN: 2325-9574
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 343
• End Page: 348
• Grant/Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: National Institutes of Health grant R21NR011131.
• Keywords: intervention; Young Adult; Humans; HIV Infections; Male; Cross-Over Studies; Adolescent; adherence; Adult; Middle Aged; Medication Adherence; Viral Load; India; Pilot Projects; assessment; Anti-Retroviral Agents; behavior

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; w2 = 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. © The Author(s) 2013.