HIV Infections
Conditions
Keywords
Patient Compliance, Adherence, Treatment Experienced
Brief summary
One of the main causes of treatment failure in HIV infected individuals is lack of adherence to complicated drug regimens. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention program designed to improve adherence to anti-HIV drug regimens. Participants in this study will be recruited from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Outpatient HIV Clinic.
Detailed description
Poor adherence to complicated antiretroviral (ARV) drug regimens is one of the most pressing behavioral problems in the clinical management of HIV infected persons. Recent medical advances have made it possible to maintain tighter control of viral replication, allowing people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. However, the complexity of ARV drug regimens and drug side effects make medication adherence problematic. Deviations from the prescribed regimen may allow the virus to resume rapid replication and develop drug resistant mutations that could render the prescribed drugs useless. This study will evaluate the efficacy of a 6-month, theory-based behavioral intervention to enhance adherence to antiretroviral treatment regimens. HIV-related attitudes, depressive symptoms, coping strategies, and social support will also be assessed to examine theoretical assumptions regarding the causal relationship between psychosocial constructs and medication adherence. Participants in this study will be recruited from UAB Outpatient HIV Clinic patients who are taking ARV medication. Participants will be randomized to a Standard Adherence Promotion Group or an Enhanced Adherence Promotion Group. The Enhanced Adherence Promotion will systematically address specific psychosocial issues associated with medication adherence. Participants will be followed for 6 months, and adherence will be evaluated at monthly study visits. Pill counts, viral loads, self-reported adherence to ARV medication, CD4 count, and genotypic viral resistance will be assessed.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALPromotion of adherence to ARV medications
Sponsors
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* HIV infected * Receiving services at UAB Outpatient HIV Clinic * Taking antiretroviral medication * Able to attend monthly assessment meetings at clinic for 6 months * Passing score on Mini Mental State Examination
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Pill counts for ARV medications | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Viral load | — |
| disease progression measures (CD4 count, viral resistance) | — |
| self-reported adherence | — |
| self-reported psychosocial measures | — |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed