Psychosocial aspects of antiretroviral medication use among HIV patients.

This study examines variables related to alteration of antiretroviral medication regimens by HIV infected persons, independent of medical advice. Perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits/barriers, cues to action, and locus of control were included in the analyses. Of 99 subjects, 37 reported discontinuing antiretrovirals on their own initiative and 36 subjects ('fiddlers') reported recent alterations in their medication regimens. Subjects who reported greater perceived barriers and pessimism and less faith in the ability of antiretrovirals to protect them from AIDS related illness were more likely to discontinue drug therapy. Fiddlers were more pessimistic and perceived more barriers to drug therapy than compliers, who believed more in the benefits of antiretrovirals. Fiddlers were significantly more internally oriented than were discontinuers. Compliers were the most optimistic about the effect of antiretrovirals. Even though compliers were more symptomatic than discontinuers, they reported their health status to be better than did discontinuers.

Medication-related stressors among family caregivers.

The contribution of medications to stress among family caregivers and the need of caregivers for pharmaceutical care services were studied. Persons in northern Florida who were caring for a family member at home who was at least 55 years of age and routinely took at least one medication were asked if they would consent to an interview. The interview was designed to elicit information about the characteristics of the caregiver and care recipient, stressors stemming directly from the medications (such as adverse effects) and arising from problems in managing the drug regimen (such as compliance), the mediators of medication-related stress (such as services received from the pharmacist), and the outcomes of stress (such as the caregiver's satisfaction with services). A total of 31 caregivers agreed to be interviewed. The mean +/- S.D. ages of caregivers and recipients were 63 +/- 13 and 80 +/- 10 years, respectively. Medication-related tasks accounted for only 7.7% of the total caregiving time. However, medications contributed substantially to caregivers' stress, with 10 caregivers (32%) reporting problems directly related to medications and 6 (19%) and 16 (52%) reporting problems in managing the drug regimen currently or within the past year, respectively. Twenty-two (71%) used the same pharmacy regularly, and 18 (58%) saw the same pharmacist regularly. Twenty-five caregivers talked with others about medication concerns. Of these, 18 (72%) discussed their charge's drug therapy with a physician but only 10 (40%) with a pharmacist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)