Factors affecting adherence to ART regimens among HIV-infected/AIDS-patients at Taksin Hospital

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the adherence to ART medication regimens among HIV-infected/AIDS patients by using multiple adherence measurements, and to determine the relationships between study factors and patients’ adherence to ART medication regimens. Data collection was conducted for a total of 200 patients through interviews using structured questionnaires in March, 2010, at the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinic, TAKSIN Hospital.
The study revealed that the majority of patients were male (53%), with an average age of 38.20 years. Most subjects were married (43.5%) and had completed primary school (35.5%). Fully 58.5% of the
subjects were employed full-time or part-time in the private sector with incomes of less than 5,000 baht/month (42%). The average duration of treatment was 36.84 months. In all, 81.5% of the subjects suffered no adverse effects from taking ART, and 70.5% took ART medications twice a day. Multi-method adherence assessment consisting of self-report, the visual analogue scale, the pill identification test and pill count found that the majority showed good adherence (70%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex, self-efficacy and patient-health care provider relationship were associated with adherence to ART regimens. In conclusion, being female, demonstrating self-efficacy and having good patient-provider relationships may increase adherence to ART regimens.