A qualitative study of underutilization of the AIDS drug assistance program.

In our previous work, we demonstrated underutilization of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) at an HIV clinic in Alabama. In order to understand barriers and facilitators to utilization of ADAP, we conducted focus groups of ADAP enrollees. Focus groups were stratified by sex, race, and historical medication possession ratio as a measure of program utilization. We grouped factors according to the social-ecological model. We found that multiple levels of influence, including patient and clinic-related factors, influenced utilization of antiretroviral medications. Patients introduced issues that illustrated high-priority needs for ADAP policy and implementation, suggesting that in order to improve ADAP utilization, the following issues must be addressed: patient transportation, ADAP medication refill schedules and procedures, mailing of medications, and the ADAP recertification process. These findings can inform a strategy of approaches to improve ADAP utilization, which may have widespread implications for ADAP programs across the United States.

Underutilization of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program: associated factors and policy implications.

BACKGROUND: The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) provides antiretroviral medications to low-income individuals with HIV infection. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of ADAP utilization, measured using medication possession ratio (MPR), was conducted during the 2008 calendar year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham 1917 HIV Clinic. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression evaluated factors associated with ADAP utilization. RESULTS: Among 245 patients, MPR quartiles (Q) were the following: Q1<69 percent, Q2=69-83 percent, Q3=84-93 percent, Q4>93 percent. In ordinal logistic regression, younger age (OR=0.59 per 10 years; 95 percent CI=0.44-0.79), nonwhite males (2.18; 1.18-4.04), lower CD4 count (2.79 for <200 cells/mm(3) ; 1.44-5.43), and a history of alcohol abuse (2.11; 1.02-4.37) were associated with poor ADAP utilization. CONCLUSIONS: One quarter of ADAP enrollees had MPR below 69 percent, a level well below that associated with optimal HIV treatment outcomes, indicating a need for programmatic interventions to improve ADAP utilization.