Self reported adherence to antiretroviral treatment and correlates in Hunan province, the Peoples Republic of China.
John Kipsang, Jia Chen, Chulei Tang and 2 others
PMID 31406819WHAT IT FOUND
Self-reported adherence was good for many adults on HIV medication, but a substantial minority missed doses.
Drug use, perceived side effects and time on treatment were linked to adherence, while stigma and busy schedules were common reasons.
Key findings
01Among 418 participants, 72.0% self-reported adherence at or above 90% and 28.0% self-reported lower adherence.
02In adjusted analysis, drug use (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.3) and perceived side effects (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.8) were associated with non-adherence.
03Among 90 participants who gave reasons for missed doses, forgetting was most common at 42.2%, and being away from home was next at 28.9%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Participants reported their own adherence, which can overstate how many doses were actually taken. The study captured adherence at a single time point, so it cannot show how adherence changed or prove causes. The study was done in selected HIV treatment sites in a province, so it may not apply to other regions or patient groups. Only participants who reported missed doses gave reasons, so the reason list may not represent all participants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these associations as evidence that drug use, side effects or time on treatment caused missed doses. The study only measured self-reported adherence at a single time point.