Reasons for ART non-adherence in the Deep South: adherence needs of a sample of HIV-positive patients in Mississippi.

HIV prevalence in the American Deep South has reached crisis proportions and greater numbers of patients are enrolling in clinical care and beginning antiretroviral therapy (ART). In order to gain maximum benefit from ART, patients must sustain high levels of adherence to demanding regimens over extended periods of time. Many patients are unable to maintain high rates of adherence and may need assistance to do so, which may be based upon an understanding of barriers to adherence for a given population. The current study sought to gain understanding of barriers to adherence for a mixed urban/rural HIV-positive patient population in Mississippi and to determine whether barriers to adherence may be specific to gender, employment, depressive symptoms or educational attainment status. Seventy-two patients who missed a dose of ART medication over the last three days endorsed the top five reasons for missing a dose as: (1) not having the medication with them, (2) sleeping through the dose time, (3) running out of the medication, (4) being busy with other things and (5) other. Reported barriers were fairly consistent across different groups, although women and those classified as having moderate to severe depressive symptoms reported different patterns of adherence barriers. Results suggest that adherence interventions implemented in the Deep South must take into account specific barriers faced by individuals within this region, where stigma, gender disparities and limited resources are prevalent.

A motivational intervention to improve adherence to treatment of chronic disease.

PURPOSE: To describe an approach to intervention, based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Change that allows the health care provider to support medication adherence in a client-centered fashion. DATA SOURCES: Review of selected research-based and theoretical articles on MI, TTM, and medication compliance issues. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence is a complex phenomenon that requires a personalized intervention. The response must focus on clients' readiness to adhere, their sense of self-efficacy in taking medicines in all circumstances, and their personal pros and cons related to adherence. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Adherence to complex medication regimens is important to long-term treatment of chronic diseases, such as HIV disease. Adherence in HIV is particularly critical to adequately suppress viral replication as well as to prevent opportunistic infections.