A medication self-management program to improve adherence to HIV therapy regimens.

Smith, S. R., Rublein, J. C., Marcus, C., Brock, T. P., & Chesney, M. A. (2003). A medication self-management program to improve adherence to HIV therapy regimens. Patient Education and Counseling, 50(2), 187-199.

This study examined whether a self-management intervention based on feedback of adherence performance and principles of social cognitive theory improves adherence to antiretroviral dosing schedules. Forty-three individuals with HIV/AIDS who were starting or switching to a new protease inhibitor regimen were randomly assigned to be in a medication self-management program or usual care control group. The self-management program included skills development exercises, three monthly visits for medication consultations, and monthly feedback of adherence performance using electronic monitors on medication bottles. Participants also completed a 40-item questionnaire that measured self-efficacy to take medications, on schedule, in a variety of situations. Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals in the self-management group were significantly more likely to take 80% or more of their doses each week than individuals in the control group (n=29, OR=7.8, 95% CI=2.2–28.1). Self-management training with feedback of adherence performance is a potentially useful model for improving adherence to complex regimens in HIV/AIDS care.

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