Adherence assessment and factors affecting adherence to art among HIV-infected/AIDS at Taksin Hospital

Abstract

This study was an analytical, cross-sectional study. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the adherence to ARV medication among HIV/AIDS patients at Taksin Hospital by using multiple adherence measurement. (2) Analyze the relationship between the factors affecting patient adherence to ARV medication. In data collection was conducted by using interviewing and assessment tools during March to April 2010 in HIV/AIDS outpatient clinic at Taksin Hospital. The samples were 200 HIV/AIDS patients who take antiretroviral medicines. The results showed that majority of the samples were male (53%), the average of age was 38.20 years-old, were married (43.5%), were completed primary school (35.5%), were employee (58.5%), had an income less than 5,000 baht per month (42%), were in universal health care coverage program (70.5%), contacted infection due to heterosexual transmission (65.5%), took ARV medicine for 3 years, no adverse event from antiretroviral (81.5%), at present the patients took ARV medicines two times/day (70.5%). Using multi-method consisted of self-report, visual analogue scale (VAS), pill identification test (PIT) and pill count in order to assess the adherence of HIV/AIDS patients, the results revealed that majority of patients (70%) had adherence to ARV medication (adherence level more than 95%). The relationship between adherence and the factors affecting patient adherence to ARV medication by using multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female, self-efficacy and patienthealth care provider relationship had positive relationship with adherence to ARV medicine (p< 0.05). In conclusion, the health care provider should provide the programs to enhance the self-efficacy of the HIV/AIDS patients and also establish the good relationship between patients-providers in order to increase the adherence level to improve the effectiveness of treatment in HIV/AIDS patients.