Adherence to treatment in Swedish HIV-infected patients

A cross-sectional study on the rate of non-adherence to anti-seizure medications and factors associated with non-adherence among patients with epilepsy

Background

Non-adherence to anti-seizure medication (ASM) therapy is an important contributing factor to the higher mortality rate and treatment failure of epilepsy. This study aimed to determine the rate and factors associated with non-adherence to ASM therapy through the WHO five dimensions of medication adherence framework.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study at an outpatient Neurology Clinic of a tertiary government hospital in Malaysia. Between March and July 2019, we identified 217 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, receiving oral ASM therapy and able to administer their medications. We performed a semi-structured interview to gather information on sociodemographic background, clinical and medication history, and perceptions on healthcare services. Adherence to ASM therapy was evaluated using the Medication Compliance Questionnaire (MCQ). Patient’s illness perception was assessed by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ).

Results

208 patients participated in this study. The median age of the study participants was 35 years (IQR 26–44). 58.2% were females and majority, 55.8%, were from the Malay ethnic group. Based on the MCQ scoring, 89 patients (42.8%) were non-adherent. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that being employed or students (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.26, 95%CI: 1.19–4.29 p = 0.012) and having an average or below average perceived access to pharmacy services (aOR 2.94, 95%CI: 1.38–6.24, p = 0.005) were significant contributors to non-adherence.

Conclusion

Being employed or students and having an average or below average perceived access to pharmacy services were associated with ASM non-adherence Efforts to improve ASM adherence should adopt a comprehensive approach considering the success of adherence is contingent on the interrelationship of multiple dimensions.

Adherence to antidiabetic medication and factors associated with non-adherence among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus in two regional hospitals in Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a growing cause of disease burden globally. Its management is multifaceted, and adherence to pharmacotherapy is known to play a significant role in glycaemic control. Data on medication adherence among affected patients is unknown in Cameroon. In this study, the level of adherence and factors influencing non-adherence to antidiabetic medication among patients with type-2 diabetes was assessed.

METHODS

A hospital-based cross-sectional study among adult patients receiving care in the diabetic clinics of the Limbe and Bamenda Regional Hospitals in Cameroon was conducted. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Compliance Questionnaire (MCQ). Factors associated with non-adherence to medication were determined using basic and adjusted multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 195 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited. The prevalence of non-adherence to medication was 54.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 47.1-61.5%]. In multivariable analysis, age > 60 years (aO.R. = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25-0.94), alcohol consumption (aO.R. = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.10-4.14) and insulin alone therapy (aO.R. = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.01-8.08) were associated with non-adherence. Patients attributed their non-adherence to forgetfulness (55.6%), lack of finances (38.2%) and disappearance of symptoms (14.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to anti-diabetic medication is poor in this study with more than half of participants being non-adherent. Urgent interventions are required to tackle this problem in combined efforts to stem this looming diabetes epidemic.

Resilience and HIV: a review of the definition and study of resilience

We use a socioecological model of health to define resilience, review the definition and study of resilience among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in the existing peer-reviewed literature, and discuss the strengths and limitations of how resilience is defined and studied in HIV research. We conducted a review of resilience research for HIV-related behaviors/outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, clinic attendance, CD4 cell count, viral load, viral suppression, and/or immune functioning among PLWH. We performed searches using PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases. The initial search generated 14,296 articles across the three databases, but based on our screening of these articles and inclusion criteria, n = 54 articles were included for review. The majority of HIV resilience research defines resilience only at the individual (i.e., psychological) level or studies individual and limited interpersonal resilience (e.g., social support). Furthermore, the preponderance of HIV resilience research uses general measures of resilience; these measures have not been developed with or tailored to the needs of PLWH. Our review suggests that a socioecological model of health approach can more fully represent the construct of resilience. Furthermore, measures specific to PLWH that capture individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood resilience are needed.

The Relationship Between Stigma and Health-Related Quality of Life in People Living with HIV Who Have Full Access to Antiretroviral Treatment: An Assessment of Earnshaw and Chaudoir's HIV Stigma Framework Using Empirical Data

The aim was to empirically test the tenets of Earnshaw and Chaudoir's HIV stigma framework and its potential covariates for persons living with HIV in Sweden. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used on survey data from 173 persons living with HIV in Sweden. Experiencing stigma was reported to a higher extent by younger persons and by women who had migrated to Sweden. As expected, anticipated stigma was related to lower Physical functioning, and internalized stigma to lower Emotional wellbeing. In contrast to that hypothesized by the HIV stigma framework, enacted stigma was not related to Physical functioning and no relationships were found between HIV-related stigma and antiretroviral adherence. These results indicate that the HIV stigma framework may need to be revised for contexts where a very high proportion of persons living with HIV are diagnosed and under efficient treatment.

Variation in Adherence Measures to Imatinib Therapy

PURPOSE

The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has transformed the care of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, with survival approaching that of healthy individuals. Current-day challenges in chronic myeloid leukemia care include adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. We studied adherence from resource-constrained settings and tried to analyze the factors responsible for nonadherence in these individuals. We also correlated adherence to current molecular status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a single-center, cross-sectional, observational study from north India. It consisted of a questionnaire-based survey in which a one-to-one interview technique was used by trained nursing staff administering the Modified Morisky Adherence Scale (MMAS-9) questionnaire. Adherence was also measured on the basis of physician's assessment. JMP 13.0.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 333 patients with a median age of 42 years were included in the study. The median BCR-ABL/ABL ratio (IS) was 0.175 (0.0 to 98.0). The mean MMAS-9 score was 11 ± 2. Adherence was seen in 54.95% on the basis of MMAS-9, whereas physician's assessment reported adherence in 90.39% of patients. Using the χ2 test, no relationship was found between the two assessment techniques. There was a significant relationship between major molecular response status and adherence by physician's assessment and MMAS-9 ( P < .001). Bivariate analysis by logistic fit showed a good relation between the MMAS-9 score and the BCR-ABL/ABL ratio (IS), χ2 (1,220) = 135.45 ( P < .001). On multivariate analysis, enrolment in the Novartis Oncology Access program (a patient assistance program) was significantly associated with adherence ( P = .012).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the lack of adherence in real-world settings and the various factors responsible. Such studies are important from a public health services perspective in various settings around the world because they may lead to corrective action being taken at the institutional level.

Use of a Self-Report Medication Adherence Scale for Measuring Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients With HIV/AIDS

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study examined the psychometric properties of a 9-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-9) adapted specifically for patients with HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

We used data from two randomized controlled trials investigating telephone-delivered interventions for improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy to assess reliability (Cronbach's α and Pearson's product correlation) and validity (convergent and concurrent) of the MMAS-9.

RESULTS

The internal consistency (Cronbach's α) of the MMAS-9 was .66 (study 1) and .69 (study 2); 3-month test-retest reliability (Pearson's correlation) ranged from .50 to .74. Validity was supported by associations with electronic event monitored adherence, social support, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, stigma, regimen complexity, and impact of side effects in the hypothesized direction.

CONCLUSIONS

The adapted MMAS-9 demonstrated good convergent validity but somewhat lower internal consistency reliability than other reports.

The clinical utility of the Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ) in an alcohol pharmacotherapy trial

BACKGROUND

Medication nonadherence is a ubiquitous problem in pharmacology treatment for alcohol use disorders. Unintentional and purposeful nonadherence as measured by the Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ) has been shown to predict problems with medication adherence; however, feedback from the MAQ has never been incorporated into a behavioral intervention to facilitate medication adherence. We assessed the integration of the MAQ into medical management (MM), a counseling approach frequently employed in conjunction with alcohol pharmacotherapy, to determine whether prior patterns of nonadherence could be addressed effectively to promote medication adherence.

METHODS

We conducted a post-hoc analysis of data from 131 alcohol dependent smokers who participated in a double blind, placebo controlled study of varenicline for the treatment of alcohol dependence. At baseline, participants completed a single administration of the MAQ, which asks 2 questions about unintentional nonadherence (e.g., forgetting) and 2 questions about purposeful nonadherence (e.g., stopping because feeling good or feeling bad). Based on these responses, participants were divided into 1 of 3 three categories. Adherent (n=60), Unintentional or Purposeful Nonadherent (n=50) and Unintentional and Purposeful Nonadherent (n=21). Over the course of the 16-week treatment period, patients were expected to participate in 12 medical management (MM) sessions; a brief psychosocial treatment. Feedback based on the MAQ responses was integrated into the MM sessions to facilitate medication and treatment adherence.

RESULTS

The 3 adherence groups were compared on baseline characteristics, medication adherence, treatment attendance and end-of-treatment patient ratings of treatment helpfulness. Baseline demographics and characteristics were not significantly different among the three categories. We found no statistically significant differences among the three groups with respect to pill adherence, treatment attendance, and treatment satisfaction ratings.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the incorporation of MAQ feedback into the MM approach could be effective in mitigating risks associated with prior patterns of nonadherence suggesting that further testing of the integrated behavioral approach is warranted.

Detection of Low Adherence in Rural Tuberculosis Patients in China: Application of Morisky Medication Adherence Scale

The detection and analysis of cases of low medication adherence is important for helping to control tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of this study was to detect low adherence in rural TB patients by using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale of Chinese version (C-MMAS-8) and to further analyze the adherence-related variables. A total of 358 rural TB patients recruited through multi-stage randomized sampling participated in the survey. Data were collected by the use of interviewer-led questionnaires. First, the reliability and validity of the C-MMAS-8 were determined. Second, the adherence level was assessed, and factors related to low adherence were analyzed by using Pearson’s chi-square test and then in multiple logistic regression model. Finally, the prediction of the logistic model was assessed with Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. The C-MMAS-8 could be used to detect low adherence in TB patients with good reliability and validity. By using the referred cutoff points of MMAS-8, it was found that more than one-third of the participants had low medication adherence. Further analysis revealed the variables of being older, a longer treatment time, and being depressive were significantly related to low adherence. The ROC of the model was assessed as good using the cutoff point. We conclude that appropriately tailored strategies are needed for health-care providers to help rural TB patients cope with low medication adherence.

Rates and Predictors of Non-Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV-Positive Individuals in Kenya: Results from the Second Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey, 2012

Introduction

Understanding the levels and associated factors of non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial in designing interventions to improve adherence and health outcomes of ART. We assessed non-adherence to ART among HIV-infected persons reporting ART use in a nationally representative survey in Kenya.

Methods

The Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey 2012 was a population-based, household survey of persons aged 18 months-64 years conducted in 2012–2013. Self-reported information was collected on demographics, sexual behaviour, HIV status, and ART use. Blood was collected for HIV testing, and if HIV infected, CD4 and viral load testing. HIV-positive specimens were tested for the presence of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs using a qualitative ARV assay using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. HIV-positive persons who reported receiving ART but did not have the ARV biomarker present were defined as being non-adherent to their ARV medication. We restricted our analysis to HIV-infected persons aged 15–64 years who reported receiving ART and had laboratory-confirmed results from ARV testing. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with non-adherence.

Results

A total of 648 (5.6%; CI 4.9–6.3) tested HIV-positive of whom 559 (86.3%) had sufficient volume of blood to be tested for ARV drugs. Of those, 271 (47.7%; CI 41.8–53.6) self-reported HIV-positive status during the interview and 186 (69.1%; CI 62.2–76.0) of those reported taking ART. The ARV biomarker was absent in 18 of 186 individuals (9.4%; CI 4.9–13.8) who thus were defined as being non-adherent to ART. Non-adherence was associated with being aged 15–29 years (AOR 8.39; CI 2.26–31.22, p = 0.002) compared to aged 30–64 years, rural residence (AOR 5.87; CI 1.39–25.61, p = 0.016) compared with urban residence and taking recreational drugs in the past 30 days (AOR 5.89; CI 1.30–26.70, p = 0.022).

Conclusion

Overall, less than 10% of Kenyans aged 15–64 years on ART were not adhering to their HIV medication, highlighting the success of the Kenyan national ART program. Our findings, however, point to the need for targeted interventions particularly for young persons, those in rural areas to improve adherence outcomes, as well as delivery of treatment programs that include psychosocial support as a preventative measure to minimize substance abuse and the risk of treatment failure.

High Concordance between Self-Reported Adherence, Treatment Outcome and Satisfaction with Care Using a Nine-Item Health Questionnaire in InfCareHIV

Background

In this cross-sectional study we present an integrated analysis of a self-reported Health Questionnaire and socio-demographic and treatment outcome data from the national Swedish HIV cohort, InfCareHIV.

Objectives

To evaluate the Health Questionnaire and identify the main determinants of adherence.

Methods

A total of 2,846 patients answered a nine-item disease-specific Health Questionnaire between 2012 and 2014, corresponding to 44% of all active patients in the national InfCareHIV cohort. The questionnaire assessed patient related outcome measures (PROMs) regarding health and antiretroviral treatment (ART) and patient related experience measures (PREMs) regarding involvement in care and satisfaction with the care provider.

Result

We found the Health Questionnaire to be valid and reliable when used in ordinary clinical practice. There was a high concordance between self-reported adherence to ART in the past seven days and treatment outcome, with 94% of patients who reported optimal adherence having a viral load <50 copies/ml. The main determinants of optimal adherence were heterosexual transmission path, being born in Sweden, being male, not reporting experience of ART side effects and being fully satisfied with care.

Conclusion

The nine-item Health Questionnaire can identify patients at risk of treatment failure, those in need of clinical assessment of adverse events and those with impaired physical health.

Strengthening adherence to Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) monitoring and support: operation research to identify barriers and facilitators in Nepal

Background

Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) is the cornerstone for comprehensive health sector response to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) treatment, care and support. Adherence of at least 95% is needed to keep HIV under control, as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This study was aimed at identifying the overall adherence level of, and barriers and facilitators to adherence for patients taking ART in different clinics in all five development regions of Nepal.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among ART clients receiving free ART from Government of Nepal ART clinics. A total of 435 clients taking ART from twelve ART clinics in different regions of Nepal, aged fifteen years and above were interviewed on one-and-one basis using questionnaires developed in reference to Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG) toolkit among them data from 404 were analyzed after cleaning. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software where the P value of < 0.05 was accepted as being statistically significant.

Results

The overall adherence in the last month (missed less than three pills total) was 94.8% (383 out of 404). The main barrier to ART adherence was the fear of side effects (among 61.9% of the non adherent population) which included dizziness (18.1%) and headaches (15.4%). The standard wristwatch (39%) was found to be the most useful aid in enabling timely consumption of medication. Educational status (P = 0.018), drug using habits (P = 0.039) and the conducive environment at ART clinics (P = 0.004) were significantly associated with ART adherence.

Conclusion

Improving better adherence may require a more holistic approach to treatment regimen and adapting it to patient daily routines. This study identifies issues such as pill count for assessing adherence, better access to health care facilities by clients, better access to medication, as well as improved nutritional support issues for better adherence by the population in the future.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0846-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Malaysian Medication Adherence Scale (MALMAS): Concurrent Validity Using a Clinical Measure among People with Type 2 Diabetes in Malaysia

Medication non-adherence is a prevalent problem worldwide but up to today, no gold standard is available to assess such behavior. This study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, particularly the concurrent validity of the English version of the Malaysian Medication Adherence Scale (MALMAS) among people with type 2 diabetes in Malaysia. Individuals with type 2 diabetes, aged 21 years and above, using at least one anti-diabetes agent and could communicate in English were recruited. The MALMAS was compared with the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) to assess its convergent validity while concurrent validity was evaluated based on the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C). Participants answered the MALMAS twice: at baseline and 4 weeks later. The study involved 136 participants. The MALMAS achieved acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.565) and stable reliability as the test-retest scores showed fair correlation (Spearman’s rho=0.412). The MALMAS has good correlation with the MMAS-8 (Spearman’s rho=0.715). Participants who were adherent to their anti-diabetes medications had significantly lower median HbA1C values than those who were non-adherence (7.90 versus 8.55%, p=0.032). The odds of participants who were adherent to their medications achieving good glycemic control was 3.36 times (95% confidence interval: 1.09-10.37) of those who were non-adherence. This confirms the concurrent validity of the MALMAS. The sensitivity of the MALMAS was 88.9% while its specificity was 29.6%. The findings of this study further substantiates the reliability and validity of the MALMAS, in particular its concurrent validity and sensitivity for assessing medication adherence of people with type 2 diabetes in Malaysia.

Factors influencing adherence to imatinib in Indian chronic myeloid leukemia patients: a cross-sectional study

Adherence to imatinib(IM) is of utmost importance in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to maximise treatment effectiveness. The main objective is to measure adherence to IM by evaluating individual patient characteristics, personal behaviour and, treatment related psychological factors influencing adherence behaviour. Hundred patients receiving IM were analysed for adherence behaviour using 9 item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (9-MMAS). Various factors were assessed for their impact on adherence behaviour. These factors were age, gender, duration of treatment, frequency and dosing of treatment, use of tobacco and alcohol, educational qualification, employment status, monthly income, side effects, financial assistance in treatment, social support, knowledge about medicine and disease, concomitant drug burden, polypharmacy, physician patient interaction, patient educational sessions and prevalence of depression. Seventy five percent of patients were found to be adherent. On univariate analysis, prevalence of depression (p<0.000001), moderate severe depression (p<0.000001), concomitant drug burden (p=0.036) and monthly income (p=0.015) were found to be significantly influencing adherence. The final multivariate model retained prevalence of depression with OR= 10.367 (95% CI, 3.112–34.538) as independent predictor of adherence to therapy. This study suggests that identification and treatment of depression among CML patients may further enhance adherence to IM therapy.

Psychometric properties of the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) in a psychiatric outpatient setting

The eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) is a structured self-report measure of medication-taking behavior that has been widely used in various cultures. In Spain, no studies to date have analyzed the psychometric properties of the scale in psychiatric care. The purpose of the present instrumental study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the MMAS-8 in a sample of 967 consecutive psychiatric outpatients. The scale showed adequate construct validity and results pointed to a one-factor solution in which all the items contributed to the final index of adherence. The MMAS-8 exhibited significant correlation coefficients with the 10-item Drug Attitude Inventory, Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale, and the Hong Psychological Reactance Scale. Moreover, the MMAS-8 was able to differentiate between various mental disorder diagnosis groups. The findings of this study suggest that the Spanish version of the MMAS-8 is a reliable and valid measure of medication adherence that can be used in a psychiatric outpatient setting.

Predictors and correlates of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for chronic HIV infection: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key predictor of the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, and is potentially amenable to intervention. Insight into predictors or correlates of non-adherence to ART may help guide targets for the development of adherence-enhancing interventions. Our objective was to review evidence on predictors/correlates of adherence to ART, and to aggregate findings into quantitative estimates of their impact on adherence.

METHODS

We searched PubMed for original English-language papers, published between 1996 and June 2014, and the reference lists of all relevant articles found. Studies reporting on predictors/correlates of adherence of adults prescribed ART for chronic HIV infection were included without restriction to adherence assessment method, study design or geographical location. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the same papers. Random effects models with inverse variance weights were used to aggregate findings into pooled effects estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the common effect size. The impact of study design features (adherence assessment method, study design, and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) of the country in which the study was set) was investigated using categorical mixed effects meta-regression.

RESULTS

In total, 207 studies were included. The following predictors/correlates were most strongly associated with adherence: adherence self-efficacy (SMD = 0.603, P = 0.001), current substance use (SMD = -0.395, P = 0.001), concerns about ART (SMD = -0.388, P = 0.001), beliefs about the necessity/utility of ART (SMD = 0.357, P = 0.001), trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider (SMD = 0.377, P = 0.001), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.305, P = 0.001), stigma about HIV (SMD = -0.282, P = 0.001), and social support (SMD = 0.237, P = 0.001). Smaller but significant associations were observed for the following being prescribed a protease inhibitor-containing regimen (SMD = -0.196, P = 0.001), daily dosing frequency (SMD = -0.193, P = 0.001), financial constraints (SMD -0.187, P = 0.001) and pill burden (SMD = -0.124, P = 0.001). Higher trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider, a lower daily dosing frequency, and fewer depressive symptoms were more strongly related with higher adherence in low and medium HDI countries than in high HDI countries.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that adherence-enhancing interventions should particularly target psychological factors such as self-efficacy and concerns/beliefs about the efficacy and safety of ART. Moreover, these findings suggest that simplification of regimens might have smaller but significant effects.

Predictors and correlates of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for chronic HIV infection: a meta-analysis

Background

Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key predictor of the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, and is potentially amenable to intervention. Insight into predictors or correlates of non-adherence to ART may help guide targets for the development of adherence-enhancing interventions. Our objective was to review evidence on predictors/correlates of adherence to ART, and to aggregate findings into quantitative estimates of their impact on adherence.

Methods

We searched PubMed for original English-language papers, published between 1996 and June 2014, and the reference lists of all relevant articles found. Studies reporting on predictors/correlates of adherence of adults prescribed ART for chronic HIV infection were included without restriction to adherence assessment method, study design or geographical location. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the same papers. Random effects models with inverse variance weights were used to aggregate findings into pooled effects estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the common effect size. The impact of study design features (adherence assessment method, study design, and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) of the country in which the study was set) was investigated using categorical mixed effects meta-regression.

Results

In total, 207 studies were included. The following predictors/correlates were most strongly associated with adherence: adherence self-efficacy (SMD = 0.603, P = 0.001), current substance use (SMD = -0.395, P = 0.001), concerns about ART (SMD = -0.388, P = 0.001), beliefs about the necessity/utility of ART (SMD = 0.357, P = 0.001), trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider (SMD = 0.377, P = 0.001), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.305, P = 0.001), stigma about HIV (SMD = -0.282, P = 0.001), and social support (SMD = 0.237, P = 0.001). Smaller but significant associations were observed for the following being prescribed a protease inhibitor-containing regimen (SMD = -0.196, P = 0.001), daily dosing frequency (SMD = -0.193, P = 0.001), financial constraints (SMD -0.187, P = 0.001) and pill burden (SMD = -0.124, P = 0.001). Higher trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider, a lower daily dosing frequency, and fewer depressive symptoms were more strongly related with higher adherence in low and medium HDI countries than in high HDI countries.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that adherence-enhancing interventions should particularly target psychological factors such as self-efficacy and concerns/beliefs about the efficacy and safety of ART. Moreover, these findings suggest that simplification of regimens might have smaller but significant effects.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-014-0142-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Translation and validation of a Chinese version of the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale in myocardial infarction patients

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Poor medication adherence is a major global public health challenge. A valid, reliable, cost-effective tool for measuring medication adherence would lead to a better understanding of non-adherence and lay the groundwork for interventions aimed at facilitating adherence to therapies. The aim of this study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale (C-MMAS-8) in Chinese myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

METHODS

Psychometric testing of the C-MMAS-8 was conducted using a convenience sample of 176 MI patients recruited from four major hospitals in Guangzhou in southern China. Socio-demographic data, C-MMAS-8 and three subscales of the revised illness perception questionnaire (treatment control, personal control and illness coherence subscales) were administered to the MI patients. Thirty MI patients participated in a 4-week retest.

RESULTS

The C-MMAS-8 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.77) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.88, P < 0.001). Significant correlations with treatment control subscale (r = 0.32, P < 0.01), personal control subscale (r = 0.47, P < 0.01), and illness coherence subscale (r = 0.44, P < 0.01) of the revised illness perception questionnaire demonstrated good construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychometric properties of the C-MMAS-8 are satisfactory.

Effects of a pharmaceutical care model on medication adherence and glycemic control of people with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong chronic condition that requires self-management. Lifestyle modification and adherence to antidiabetes medications are the major determinants of therapeutic success in the management of diabetes.

PURPOSE

To assess the effects of a pharmaceutical care (PC) model on medication adherence and glycemic levels of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 241 people with type 2 diabetes were recruited from a major teaching hospital in Malaysia and allocated at random to the control (n=121) or intervention (n=120) groups. Participants in the intervention group received PC from an experienced pharmacist, whereas those in the control group were provided the standard pharmacy service. Medication adherence was assessed using the Malaysian Medication Adherence Scale, and glycemic levels (glycated hemoglobin values and fasting blood glucose [FBG]) of participants were obtained at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 months.

RESULTS

At baseline, there were no significant differences in demographic data, medication adherence, and glycemic levels between participants in the control and intervention groups. However, statistically significant differences in FBG and glycated hemoglobin values were observed between the control and intervention groups at months 4, 8, and 12 after the provision of PC (median FBG, 9.0 versus 7.2 mmol/L [P<0.001]; median glycated hemoglobin level, 9.1% versus 8.0% [P<0.001] at 12 months). Medication adherence was also significantly associated with the provision of PC, with a higher proportion in the intervention group than in the control group achieving it (75.0% versus 58.7%; P=0.007).

CONCLUSION

The provision of PC has positive effects on medication adherence as well as the glycemic control of people with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the PC model used in this study should be duplicated in other health care settings for the benefit of more patients with type 2 diabetes.

Factors associated with good glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present study was to determine the status of glycemic control and identify factors associated with good glycemic control among diabetic patients treated at primary health clinics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic random sample of 557 patients was selected from seven clinics in the Hulu Langat District. Data were collected from patients' medication records, glycemic control tests and structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to predict factors associated with good glycemic control.

RESULTS

Variables associated with good glycemic control included age (odds ratio 1.033; 95% confidence interval 1.008-1.059) and duration of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio 0.948; 95% confidence interval 0.909-0.989). Compared with the patients who were receiving a combination of insulin and oral antidiabetics, those receiving monotherapy (odds ratio 4.797; 95% confidence interval 1.992-11.552) and a combination of oral antidiabetics (odds ratio 2.334; 95% confidence interval 1.018-5.353) were more likely to have good glycemic control. In the present study, the proportion of patients with good glycemic control was lower than that in other published studies. Older patients with a shorter duration of diabetes who were receiving monotherapy showed better glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Although self-management behavior did not appear to influence glycemic control, diabetic patients should be consistently advised to restrict sugar intake, exercise, stop smoking and adhere to medication instructions. Greater effort by healthcare providers in the primary health clinics is warranted to help a greater number of patients achieve good glycemic control.

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV (PLHIV): a cross-sectional survey to measure in Lao PDR

Rationale

Since 2001, antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) has been available in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). A key factor in the effectiveness of ART is good adherence to the prescribed regimen for both individual well-being and public health. Poor adherence can contribute to the emergence of drug resistant strains of the virus and transmission during risky behaviors. Increased access to ART in low-income country settings has contributed to an interest in treatment adherence in resource–poor contexts. This study aims to investigate the proportion of adherence to ART and identify possible factors related to non-adherence to ART among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Lao PDR.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with adults living with HIV receiving free ART at Setthathirath hospital in the capital Vientiane and Savannakhet provincial hospitals from June to November 2011. Three hundred and forty six PLHIV were interviewed using an anonymous questionnaire. The estimation of the adherence rate was based on the information provided by the PLHIV about the intake of medicine during the previous three days. The statistical software Epidata 3.1 and Stata 10.1 were used for data analysis. Frequencies and distribution of each variable were calculated by conventional statistical methods. The chi square test, Mann–Whitney test and logistic regression were used for bivariate analyses. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of non-adherence to ART. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results

Of a total of 346 patients, 60% reported more than 95% adherence to ART. Reasons for not taking medicine as required were being busy (97.0%), and being forgetful (62.2%). In the multivariate analysis, educational level at secondary school (OR=3.7, 95% CI:1.3-10.1, p=0.012); illicit drug use (OR=16.1, 95% CI:1.9-128.3, p=0.011); dislike exercise (OR=0.6, 95% CI:0.4-0.9, p=0.028), and forgetting to take ARV medicine during the last month (OR=2.3, 95% CI:1.4-3.7, p=0.001) were independently associated with non-adherence.

Conclusions

Non-adherence to ART was associated with individual factors and exposure to ART. Priority measures to increase adherence to ART should aim to intensify counseling and comprehensive interventions, such as guidance for PLHIV on medication self-management skills, tailoring the regimen to the PLHIV life style, and improving adherence monitoring and health care services.

Factors associated with suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Viet Nam: a cross-sectional study using audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI)

Background

Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is necessary for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). There have been relatively few systematic analyses of factors that promote or inhibit adherence to antiretroviral therapy among PLHIV in Asia. This study assessed ART adherence and examined factors associated with suboptimal adherence in northern Viet Nam.

Methods

Data from 615 PLHIV on ART in two urban and three rural outpatient clinics were collected by medical record extraction and from patient interviews using audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI).

Results

The prevalence of suboptimal adherence was estimated to be 24.9% via a visual analogue scale (VAS) of past-month dose-missing and 29.1% using a modified Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group scale for on-time dose-taking in the past 4 days. Factors significantly associated with the more conservative VAS score were: depression (p < 0.001), side-effect experiences (p < 0.001), heavy alcohol use (p = 0.001), chance health locus of control (p = 0.003), low perceived quality of information from care providers (p = 0.04) and low social connectedness (p = 0.03). Illicit drug use alone was not significantly associated with suboptimal adherence, but interacted with heavy alcohol use to reduce adherence (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This is the largest survey of ART adherence yet reported from Asia and the first in a developing country to use the ACASI method in this context. The evidence strongly indicates that ART services in Viet Nam should include screening and treatment for depression, linkage with alcohol and/or drug dependence treatment, and counselling to address the belief that chance or luck determines health outcomes.

Frequency and predictors of patient deviation from prescribed opioids and barriers to opioid pain management in patients with advanced cancer

CONTEXT

Approximately 80% of patients with advanced cancer report pain and receive opioids. Information is limited about deviations from prescribed opioid doses and barriers to pain control, but poor opioid adherence has been reported in 49%-70% of patients.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the frequency and severity of self-reported opioid deviation and barriers to opioid pain management in outpatients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

We surveyed 198 patients and collected pain scores (0-10), prescribed opioid dose, confidential patient-reported opioid prescription dose and intake (as long as there was no severe opioid deviation), barriers to pain management (Barriers Questionnaire-II [BQ-II]) scores, and adherence scores. Opioid deviation was defined as <70% or >130% of the prescribed dose.

RESULTS

Median patient age was 55 years; 91 (46%) were female. Median pain intensity and morphine equivalent daily dose were 4 (interquartile range=3-7) and 120mg (interquartile range=45-270mg), respectively. Prescribed and patient-reported prescribed doses were highly correlated for regular (r=0.90, P<0.001) and regular plus breakthrough opioid intake (r=0.94, P<0.001). Nineteen (9.6%) patients deviated. Deviation was more frequent in males (P=0.039) and nonwhites (P=0.0270). Nonwhite patients had higher scores on the BQ-II than white patients (P=0.038). Low adherence scores were significantly associated with higher BQ-II scores (1.99±0.80) for lower motivation score vs. 1.61±0.77 for higher score, P=0.007; and 2.13±0.79 for lower knowledge score vs. 1.57±0.72 for higher score, P=0.001.

CONCLUSION

Very few patients reported dose deviations, which were mostly toward lower dose. More research is necessary to better characterize the frequency and predictors of opioid deviation in this population.

Medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated at primary health clinics in Malaysia

PURPOSE

Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health problem that affects patients of all ages. Even though diabetes mellitus is recognized as a major chronic illness, adherence to antidiabetic medicines has often been found to be unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to assess adherence to medications and to identify factors that are associated with nonadherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients at Primary Health Clinics of the Ministry of Health in Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cross-sectional survey was carried out among T2DM patients to assess adherence to medication in primary health clinics. Adherence was measured by using the Medication Compliance Questionnaire that consists of a total of seven questions. Other data, such as patient demographics, treatment, outcome, and comorbidities were also collected from patient medical records.

RESULTS

A total of 557 patients were recruited in the study. Approximately 53% of patients in the study population were nonadherent. Logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the factors associated with nonadherence. Variables associated with nonadherence were age, odds ratio 0.967 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.948-0.986); medication knowledge, odds ratio 0.965 (95% CI: 0.946-0.984); and comorbidities, odds ratio 1.781 (95% CI: 1.064-2.981).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to medication in T2DM patients in the primary health clinics was found to be poor. This is a cause of concern, because nonadherence could lead to a worsening of disease. Improving medication knowledge by paying particular attention to different age groups and patients with comorbidities could help improve adherence.

Alcohol Consumption, Progression of Disease and Other Comorbidities, and Responses to Antiretroviral Medication in People Living with HIV

The present paper describes the possible connection between alcohol consumption and adherence to medicine used to treat human deficiency viral (HIV) infection. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has a positive influence on longevity in patients with HIV, substantially reducing morbidity and mortality, including resource-poor settings such as South Africa. However, in a systematic comparison of HAART outcomes between low-income and high-income countries in the treatment of HIV-patients, mortality was higher in resource-poor settings. Specifically, in South Africa, patients often suffer from concomitant tuberculosis and other infections that may contribute to these results. Alcohol influences the use of medicine for opportunistic infections (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis), or coinfections HIV-hepatitis viruses-B (HBV) and C (HCV), cytomegalovirus, or herpes simplex virus. Furthermore, alcohol use may negatively impact on medication adherence contributing to HIV progression. The materials used provide a data-supported approach. They are based on analysis of published (2006–2011) world literature and the experience of the authors in the specified topic. Intended for use by health care professionals, these recommendations suggest approaches to the therapeutic and preventive aspects of care. Our intention was to fully characterize the quality of evidence supporting recommendations, which are reflecting benefit versus risk, and assessing strength or certainty.

Women and vulnerability to HAART non-adherence: a literature review of treatment adherence by gender from 2000 to 2011

A literature review of original research articles on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in developed countries, covering January 2000 to June 2011, was conducted to determine if gender differences exist in the prevalence of nonadherence to ART. Of the 1,255 articles reviewed, only 189 included data on the proportion of the study population that was adherent and only 57 (30.2%) of these reported proportional adherence values by gender. While comparing articles was challenging because of varied reporting strategies, women generally exhibit poorer adherence than men. Thirty of the 44 articles (68.2%) that reported comparative data on adherence by gender found women to be less adherent than men. Ten articles (17.5%) reported significant differences in proportional adherence by gender, nine of which showed women to be less adherent than men. These findings suggest that in multiple studies from developed countries, female gender often predicts lower adherence. The unique circumstances of HIV-positive women require specialized care to increase adherence to ART.

Psychometric Properties of Three Medication Adherence Scales in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patient adherence to their health care protocols is important to encourage the best health outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, little attention has been given to assessing the psychometric properties of adherence measures in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of three existing self-report measures of medication adherence in a sample of patients with RA—the Compliance-Questionnaire-Rheumatology (CQR), the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), and the Medication Adherence Scale (MAS). A cross-sectional study of 108 clinic patients with rheumatoid arthritis was conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measures. Cronbach’s alpha was .77 for both the CQR and a modified version of the MARS. For the MAS, the Kuder-Richardson 20 reliability was .25. Although not strong, test-retest reliability was adequate for all measures. Factor analysis indicated that both the MARS and the CQR measure two factors. All three instruments were moderately correlated with each other, with correlations ranging between .48 and .56. Although these scales were significantly correlated, moderate correlations among the scales indicate that they may not measure the same aspects of adherence. Among the three adherence measures, the modified MARS demonstrated the best evidence of reliability and validity and ease of administration in this sample of persons with RA.

Good adherence to imatinib therapy among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia--a single-center observational study

Previous studies have suggested that adherence to imatinib therapy can be an obstacle among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We studied adherence to imatinib therapy among CML patients treated at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. We identified all CML patients that were alive at the 1st of January 2010 (n = 70). Nineteen patients were excluded due to a history of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and nine were excluded due to treatment with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Thirty-eight out of 42 patients (90%) treated with imatinib accepted inclusion in the study. The patients were interviewed in a structured way, and adherence was evaluated in a standardized way using the nine-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale that ranges from 1 to 13. A Morisky score ≤10 indicates nonadherence and ≥11 indicates adherence. In addition, predefined follow-up questions were asked to identify factors known to influence adherence to therapy. In contrast to previous studies, our patients showed good adherence to imatinib therapy with a mean Morisky score of 12.3 out of 13 (range, 9-13). The interviews revealed factors known to predict adherence to therapy, namely being well informed and having frequent contact with a single hematologist. Furthermore, the patients had easy access to the treating clinic and felt that they took part in decisions concerning their disease and treatment. We show that adherence to imatinib can be very good in CML patients, and we suggest that simple measures such as increased patient information and continuity of care will increase adherence in patients with CML.

The eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale MMAS: translation and validation of the Malaysian version

AIMS

To translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malaysian version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) among patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A standard "forward-backward" procedure was used to translate MMAS into Malay language. It was later validated on a convenience sample of 223 type 2 diabetes outpatients between May and September 2009. Reliability was tested for internal consistency. Validity was confirmed using convergent and known group validity.

RESULTS

Employing the recommended scoring method, the mean±SD of MMAS scores was 6.13±1.72. Moderate internal consistency was found (Cronbach's α=0.675), the test-retest reliability value was 0.816 (p<0.001). A positive correlation between the eight- and four-item MMAS was found (r=0.792; p<0.01). A significant relationship between MMAS categories and HbA1c categories (χ(2)=20.261; p≥0.001) was found. The MMAS sensitivity and specificity, with positive and negative predictive values were 77.61%, 45.37%, 46.84% and 76.56%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this validation study indicate that the Malaysian version of the MMAS is a reliable and valid measure of medication adherence which can now be used.

Factors associated with poor adherence to anti-retroviral therapy in patients attending a rural health centre in South Africa

South Africa has a very high HIV disease burden and proper patient adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is crucial in achieving optimal treatment outcomes. Factors influencing adherence include demographic and psychosocial factors, medication-related issues and other patient-related matters. This study was carried out in order to determine factors associated with poor compliance to anti-retroviral (ARV) medications in a rural setting. This interview-based descriptive and analytical study was carried out in a health centre where 168 patients who received ARVs were interviewed with pre-structured questionnaires, which covered various important compliance-related aspects. The results showed that 37.5% of the patients were non-adherent. Amongst men, poor adherence was seen in those who were single (48.9%), with tertiary education (60%), in those who consumed alcohol regularly (47.1%) and in those who were unemployed (56.1%). Higher rates of non-adherence in women was associated with being single (36.5%) and in those who used alcohol (60.7%). Medication-related adverse effects were reported in 47% of patients, notably, neuropathy, headache, nausea, loss of memory, diarrhoea and fatigue. Common reasons for missing doses were: being away from home (57.1%), simply forgot (41.3%), side effects (50.8%) and being too busy (49.2%). Poor adherence to ART is an important concern relating to HIV management in our setting and needs to be addressed with more patient-oriented interventions.

Psychometric properties of the Thai version of the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

A self-reporting questionnaire is the most convenient and cheapest way to assess medication adherence. A new 8-item self-reported Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) has been developed and has shown better psychometric properties than the original 4-item Morisky scale.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the validity, including convergent known-groups and construct validity, and reliability, including internal consistency and test-retest reliability, of the MMAS in Thai patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

The data were derived from a cross-sectional study. In a convenience sample, 303 type 2 diabetic outpatients were interviewed at the General Police Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, between January and June 2007. Face-to-face interviews included MMAS, medication adherence visual analog scale (MA-VAS), and sociodemographic data. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data such as hemoglobin A(1C) (A1C) levels.

RESULTS

Internal consistency reliability was moderate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.61), whereas the test-retest reliability of the MMAS was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.83; p < 0.001). Concerning convergent validity, the MMAS had a high correlation with the 3-item Morisky scale (r = 0.77; p < 0.01) and a medium correlation with the MA-VAS (r = 0.57; p < 0.01). Regarding known-groups validity, a significant association between MMAS and A1C levels was found (chi(2) = 6.7; p < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the MMAS were 51%, 64%, 71%, and 43%, respectively. Our factor analysis showed that the MMAS had 3 dimensions including forgetting to take medications, stopping medications when feeling better or worse, and the complexity of the drug regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

The 8-item MMAS can be a tool to aid in assessing medication adherence in diabetes. The poor sensitivity can be improved by increasing the number of the response choices and the cut-off score of the scale and by using specific words in some items. A modified Thai version of the 8-item MMAS may be needed.

[Internal medicine physicians' perception of frequency and impact of corticosteroid-induced adverse events]

INTRODUCTION

Whereas internal medicine physicians frequently prescribe systemic corticosteroids, it is unknown if they assess adequately the frequency and the discomfort caused by corticosteroid-induced adverse events.

METHODS

Using an e-mail questionnaire sent to the 813 internal medicine physicians, members of the French National Society of Internal Medicine, we assessed their perception of the frequency and the discomfort induced by the adverse events of long-term (that is, over or at three months) corticosteroid therapy. At the same time, 121 corticosteroid-treated patients, consulting in a department of internal medicine completed an anonymous questionnaire about the frequency and the discomfort caused by the adverse events of their therapy.

RESULTS

Three hundred and thirty-six out of 813 internal medicine physicians answered to the questionnaire (response rate: 41%) and 115 of the 121 questionnaires distributed to patients were exploitable. The physicians were predominantly male (71%) working mainly in tertiary centers (53%). The mean length of corticosteroids therapy for patients was 44+/-38 months and the mean daily dosage was 15+/-14mg. Lipodystrophy, trophic skin disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders and insomnia were frequent and reported by more than half of patients. The frequency of neuropsychiatric and skin disorders and of lipodystrophy estimated by practitioners was markedly lower than the frequency reported by patients. If morphological changes (weight-gain and lipodystrophy) were cited by practitioners as the most discomforting adverse event, in agreement with patients' opinion, physicians underestimated the discomfort caused by neuropsychiatric disorders and insomnia.

CONCLUSION

Frequency and discomfort caused by corticosteroid-induced neuropsychiatric disorders are underestimated by internal medicine physicians.

Patients' perception and effectiveness of a treatment containing enfuvirtide when used in HIV-infected patients without very advanced disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the satisfaction with self-injected enfuvirtide (ENF) and the clinical outcome of HIV-infected patients without very advanced disease.

METHOD

ESPPE is a multicenter observational study that included 103 evaluated patients showing baseline characteristics predictive of positive outcome: CD4 >100 cells/mm3, viral load (VL) <100,000 copies/mL, previous treatment with a maximum of 10 antiretroviral drugs, and concomitant use of 2 active drugs. By using validated surveys, patients were questioned 6 months after the prescription of ENF about their quality of life (QoL) and acceptance of self-injections and adherence to the treatment.

RESULTS

At 6 months, the mean CD4 increase was 121 cells/mm3 (p < .05) and 65% (intent-to-treat, ENF stopped=failure) had VL <50 copies/mL (p < .001). Fourteen patients discontinued the treatment, mostly due to intolerance (6). The majority (>89%) assessed all items relating QoL as "excellent," "very good," or "good." The treatment satisfaction index on a visual analog scale scored a median of 8.1 out of 10; when participants were asked about the interference of injections on their daily activities, 87% answered "never" or "only sometimes."

CONCLUSION

Effectiveness and patients' perception about ENF remain good when ENF was used in patients without very advanced disease. QoL was not impaired after ENF use.

A structural equation modeling approach to the concepts of adherence and readiness in antiretroviral treatment

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional, nation-wide survey, was to test a hypothesized model with two latent concepts (readiness and adherence), based on the theory of trigger events. A secondary objective was to compare this model with two simpler models, without the concept of readiness.

METHODS

Data consisted of a consecutive sample of 828 HIV patients > or = 18 years on antiretroviral treatment at 30 out of 32 HIV Clinics in Sweden (response rate 97.5%). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the models against the empirical data. Chi2 test was used to compare fit between models.

RESULTS

The hypothesized model, with two latent concepts (readiness and adherence), fitted the data best (chi(2)=223.508, d.f.=129, p-value<0.0001, GFI=0.970, CFI=0.913, RMSEA=0.030), and significantly better than the models with adherence as the only latent concept.

CONCLUSION

Although the SEM technique could not rule out that other models might also fit the data equally well, the hypothesized model, where readiness and adherence were two separate latent concepts, fitted data the best. This supports readiness as a distinct factor that influences adherence and hence treatment outcome. Increased attention should therefore be attached to interventions that focus on the individual' readiness for behavioural change, i.e. factors amendable to change and that can be addressed by the patients themselves.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Based on these results it seems necessary to shift focus from adherence to readiness, especially in conditions where treatment can be postponed such as antiretroviral treatment.