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PubMed2001

A prospective study of factors influencing adherence to a continuous neuroleptic treatment program in schizophrenia patients during 2 years.

Dropout from prophylactic neuroleptic treatment is one major reason for relapse in schizophrenia patients. There is a lack of prospective studies on factors that predict medication adherence. We investigated factors suspected to predict dropout from continuous neuroleptic treatment in a 2-year prospective study involving 122 outpatients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia. Forty-two (34.4%) were classified as patient-related dropouts. No significant difference between compliant patients and dropouts was found with regard to sociodemographic variables, except that compliant patients were significantly older. Also, no differences in psychopathology were seen at the beginning of treatment, but compliant patients had a longer duration of illness. Compliant patients had higher doses of neuroleptics in the initial stabilization phase and correspondingly showed more extrapyramidal signs. Physicians rated compliant patients from the beginning as more cooperative. These patients also showed significantly higher scores in positive treatment expectations. In a stepwise regression analysis, positive illness concepts, the global assessment of functioning (GAF), and the physicians' view of patients' cooperation predicted 19 percent of the variance. We concluded that the prediction of dropouts is insufficient and remains largely an unsolved problem. Future research should focus more on context factors in the search for clinically meaningful explanations of patient dropout from treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence and risk factors of non-adherence with immunosuppressive medication in kidney transplant patients.

Non-adherence with immunosuppressive regimen is a major risk factor for poor outcome after kidney transplantation. Identifying patients at risk for non-adherence requires understanding the risk factors for non-adherence. This prospective study included a convenience sample of 249 adult kidney transplant patients >1 year post-transplant. Non-adherence was monitored electronically using MEMS(R). Selected socio-economic, therapy-, patient-, condition- and healthcare team-related risk factors for non-adherence were assessed. Period prevalences were expressed as the percent of prescribed doses taken (taking adherence), the percent of correctly dosed days (dosing adherence), the percentage of inter-dose intervals not exceeding 25% of the prescribed interval (timing adherence), and the number of drug holidays per 100 days (no intake for > 48 h if once daily or for > 24 h if twice daily intake). Testing occurred by simple mixed logistic regression analysis. Factors significant after correction for multiple testing were entered into a multiple logistic regression model. Mean taking, dosing, timing adherence, and drug holidays were 98%, 96%, 93%, and 1.1 days, respectively. Non-adherence was associated with lower self-efficacy, higher self-reported non-adherence, no pillbox usage, and male gender. Adherence declined between Monday and Sunday. This study provides a framework for identifying patients at risk for non-adherence and for developing adherence-enhancing interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Update on HIV patient management: latest trends in laboratory testing, immune cell reconstitution, and vaccine development.

HIV patient management requires the close interaction of clinicians and laboratorians to integrate the results obtained by emerging methodologies. Evaluation of drug susceptibility to screen for specific mutations in the HIV genome can avoid needless treatment with ineffective drugs, maximizing the benefits of costly triple-drug therapy. In addition, providing a scientific basis for the effective use of genotyping and therapeutic drug monitoring is a valuable role that laboratorians can play in optimizing patient care. The clinical utility of HIV genotyping has been defined more clearly during the last year, and pharmacokinetic profiles of the antiretrovirals are beginning to emerge in the clinical laboratory as a tool to periodically assess adherence to and efficacy of the drug regimens. However, much more work is required in this area. Switching to simpler regimens is perceived as a means to improve medication adherence, manage drug toxicity, and reduce the potential for interaction among different drugs. HIV affects the function of both cytotoxic T-cells and neutralizing antibodies. The ability to identify and quantify HIV-specific immunity may allow us to target and expand specific deficient cell clones as a means of correcting immune deficiencies and strengthening the effects of drug therapy. One such example is IL-2, shown to increase CD4 cell counts at various stages of HIV disease. Additional studies of IL-2 therapy and newer immune modulators are ongoing. Combination vaccines are being tested as a worthwhile approach to optimize induction of both CTLs and antibodies. The role of the laboratory to determine the potency of HIV vaccine candidates awaits further developments evaluating the relative importance of neutralizing and mucosal antibodies versus CTL responses and the degree of immunogenicity needed to contain the spread of infection. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention aims to reduce new HIV infections by 50% per year in the next five years, and this goal is to be achieved through selected strategies put together by the plethora of experts in this arena. The aim of this article is to update the reader on the latest trends in HIV patient management and motivate collaborations to assist in the prompt implementation of improved medical care.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Promotion of prescription drugs to consumers: case study results.

OBJECTIVE: Identify key factors related to patients. medication adherence and health outcomes after they received a prescription that they requested based on a prescription drug advertisement. METHODS: During January 2002, 6 individuals who requested advertised prescription medications and received a prescription from their physician were interviewed. Qualitative analysis was employed to allow for preservation of individual findings and variances in effects for each subject. RESULTS: In all, the 6 patients received 10 prescriptions. For 8 of the 10 requests (80%), the patients were given a prescription for the specific products requested. Of the 10 prescriptions granted to the patients, only one (10%) of the medications was discontinued by the patient due to lack of efficacy. In addition, one patient discontinued one of the products because it was withdrawn from the market. The results showed that individuals (a) may be willing to.just try. new therapies to see if they work better than their existing therapies, (b) appear to make decisions about the usefulness or value of the drug product after a short-term trial, (c) compare the value of the product with the out-of-pocket cost of the product after a short trial, (d) value and seek the advice of their physician about information they see in advertisements, (e) become extremely pleased when they find that the new product actually helps them, and (f) may develop favorable views about advertised prescription drug products, in general, if they had a favorable experience with the first product they requested. Some patients experienced disappointment, side effects, new challenges about how to fit the newly prescribed therapy into their lifestyle and existing drug regimen, the need for follow-up appointments with their physician, and the unwelcome challenge of how to pay for their newly prescribed therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Each study subject had unique experiences and outcomes after asking his or her physician for an advertised prescription drug product. Both positive and negative experiences were noted. Asking for an advertised drug appears to be viewed by patients as an opportunity for a short-term trial of a new therapy. Such short-term trials could introduce the need for follow-up physician visits and may result in higher drug expenditures for patients.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Self-reported adherence to antiretroviral treatment and degree of sense of coherence in a group of HIV-infected patients.

The goal of this study was to explore the relation between self-reported adherence to antiretroviral treatment and degree of sense of coherence in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Ninety-nine patients from an outpatient clinic, all undergoing antiretroviral therapy, participated. Questionnaires were answered twice at a 12-month interval. The 29-item Sense of Coherence (SOC) Scale was used for measuring the ability to cope with stressful life situations. Medication adherence was assessed with self-reported measurements. Clinical characteristics and background variables were collected from the medical records. Results from variables measured with the 12-month interval show a significant concordance with disease stage (p < or = 0.0001), and in HIV-RNA copies per milliliter (p < or = 0.0001) and an increase in CD4 cell count/mm3 (p = < 0.0001). Univariate analysis showed significant differences between nonadherent patients (n = 19) and adherent patients (n = 80) at the last measurement (i.e., the nonadherent group had lower CD4 cell count/mm3 [p = 0.004], higher HIV-1 RNA levels [p 50.029], and lower SOC [p = 0.04] than the adherent group). Finally, multiple regression analyses showed that at measurement 2 the SOC predicted nonadherence, the lower SOC the more missed doses (p < or = 0.01). Because SOC seems to play an important role in this group of patients managing their disease, a caring patient-provider relationship should be developed to minimize nonadherent behaviour. For this reason SOC scale might be of great clinical value to identify patients needing the most support for successful treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among patients with HIV: a critical link between behavioral and biomedical sciences.

Rapid advances in biomedical science, such as pharmaceutical developments for HIV disease, must be integrated with advances in behavioral science to further our understanding of medication adherence. This article evaluates the current state of the science in adherence to antiretroviral therapy for persons with HIV. The primary objectives are to 1) identify critical determinants of adherence, and 2) describe interventions to improve adherence. Adherence is a complex dynamic behavior influenced by characteristics of the patient, treatment regimen, disease, patient-provider relationship, and clinical setting. Therefore, the most promising interventions are multifaceted and target different locations in this matrix simultaneously. Unfortunately, nonadherence remains a formidable barrier in the management of HIV, resulting in the development of resistance and drug failure. Moreover, adherence is a public health concern, with implications for the transmission of HIV in general and the transmission of drug-resistant strains of HIV specifically. Despite substantial attention to adherence in recent years, much more remains to be done to better understand and promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy through effective interventions. From this integration of biomedical and behavioral science, effective clinical interventions can be developed and implemented to enhance the health of patients with HIV.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗
PubMed2006

HIV treatment beliefs and sexual transmission risk behaviors among HIV positive men and women.

People are living longer and healthier with HIV infection because of successful combination antiretroviral therapies. HIV treatment beliefs are often associated with sexual practices among people living with HIV/AIDS but these associations may depend on the HIV status of sex partners. In a sample of 158 HIV positive men and women who were receiving HIV treatments, we examined the association between HIV treatment beliefs, HIV transmission risk perceptions, medication adherence, viral load and engaging in unprotected intercourse with any sex partners and specifically with sex partners who were not HIV positive (non-concordant). Results showed having missed medications in the past two days and treatment-related beliefs were significantly associated with engaging in unprotected intercourse with all sex partners as well as non-concordant partners. However, multivariate models showed that only treatment beliefs were significantly associated with engaging in unprotected intercourse with non-concordant partners. These results extend past research by demonstrating that the HIV status of sex partners sets the context for whether prevention-related treatment beliefs are associated with HIV transmission risk behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Violence and leveraged community treatment for persons with mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This article explores the link between violence and the practice of legally mandating treatment in the community or leveraging benefits from the social welfare system, such as subsidized housing and disability income support, to ensure adherence to treatment. METHOD: Data are presented from a survey of 1,011 persons with psychiatric disorders receiving treatment in public mental health service systems in five U.S. cities. Multinomial logit analysis was used to examine the association between physically assaultive behavior and experience of social welfare leverage, legal leverage, or both types of leverage, with the analyses controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Across study sites, 18% to 21% of participants reported having committed violent acts in the past 6 months; 3% to 9% reported having used or made threats with a lethal weapon, committed sexual assault, or caused injury. About three-quarters of subjects who reported such serious violence also reported having experienced some form of leveraged treatment, compared with about one-half of subjects who did not report serious violence. Demographic and clinical factors that were independently associated with the likelihood of experiencing both types of leverage included younger age, male gender, poorer clinical functioning, more years in treatment, more frequent hospitalizations, higher frequency of outpatient visits, and negative attitudes toward medication adherence. Among participants who did not voluntarily take psychotropic medication, even minor assaultiveness was associated with having experienced legal leverage. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of concerns about safety and treatment nonadherence may influence decisions by clinicians and judges to apply legal leverage.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differences by age and race/ethnicity in knowledge about hypercholesterolemia.

This investigation sought to identify gaps in patients' knowledge about hypercholesterolemia and lipid-lowering therapy in an inner-city US population. Chart reviews and interviews were conducted for drug-treated hypercholesterolemic patients at 3 hospital-based cardiology practices in Bronx, NY. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess whether race/ethnicity, sex, and age were predictors of knowledge. Subjects (n = 467, age 65.3 years) were 55% female, 38% Hispanic, 32% black, and 25% white. Most recognized hypercholesterolemia as a cause of heart disease (88%) and stroke (76%), although older subjects (>70 years) and Hispanic subjects, particularly non-English speakers, were significantly less likely to know about cardiovascular disease risks associated with hypercholesterolemia. Only 14% recalled their recent cholesterol levels, and recall was significantly lower among black, Hispanic, and older subjects. Overall, 31% expected to require lipid-lowering medications indefinitely in the future, while 66% did not know how long they would need to continue using medications. Blacks and Hispanics were significantly less likely to believe that they would need to continue taking medications indefinitely. Achieved lipid levels and self-reported medication adherence were relatively favorable although were unrelated to knowledge levels. In summary, among hypercholesterolemic patients in an urban population, relatively few knew their own cholesterol levels or expected to require medications indefinitely in the future. Older patients, black and Hispanic patients, and non-English speakers were significantly less likely to have accurate knowledge about hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, patient and community education efforts targeted to specific populations may lead to improved management of hypercholesterolemia in inner-city regions.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast.

OBJECTIVES: Mental illness and substance abuse have been consistently associated with poor HIV-medication adherence and other negative health outcomes. METHODS: A brief mental health and substance use screening instrument was administered to 1,362 HIV-infected individuals receiving care at two academic medical center Infectious Diseases Clinics in North Carolina. RESULTS: Study results indicated high frequencies of symptoms of mental illness (60%), substance abuse (32%), and co-occurring symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse (23%). Younger age (P = 0.03), male sex (P < 0.001), and higher viral load (P < 0.001) were associated with substance use problems. White race (P = 0.001), younger age (P = 0.023), and higher viral load (P = 0.042) were associated with symptoms of mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: In the Southeast, mental health and substance abuse services are sparse and stigma is high; thus, innovative treatment strategies are needed to address the high levels of co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. Antiretroviral therapies will not reach their potential for slowing the HIV/AIDS epidemic and prolonging survival if comorbidities that influence patient behavior are not addressed.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1989

Family physicians and general internists: do they treat hypertensive patients differently?

This study compared 51 San Francisco Bay Area family physicians and 47 general internists in their treatment of hypertensive patients. Charts from 2254 patients of these physicians were reviewed. The average age and percentage of board certification of both groups of physicians are similar. Patients of general internists were slightly older than the family practice patients (average age 61 vs 59 years). The general internists saw significantly fewer patients per hour (3.0) than the family physicians (3.6). Family physicians were more likely to employ a registered nurse (33%) than were general internists (17%), and family physicians were twice as likely to delegate patient education to office staff than were the general internists. The mean number and kinds of antihypertensive medications prescribed were similar. Internists did more laboratory testing, but the difference was not statistically significant. General internists were more likely to change medication when their patients' blood pressure was uncontrolled than were family physicians (in 60% vs 40% of patients, P = .02), and they were also more likely to recall uncontrolled patients within 3 months than were family physicians (50% vs 35% of patients, P = .05). There was no significant difference in mean diastolic blood pressure or in hypertension-related behaviors, such as medication adherence, aerobic exercise, alcohol consumption, or amount of dietary salt, between the two patient groups; however, over 35% of patients of both groups had elevated blood pressure readings despite taking medications. Overall, there were more similarities than differences in the care physicians provided. Efforts to change physician performance in the treatment of hypertensive patients are still warranted and equally applicable to both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hepatitis C treatment update.

Hepatitis C is a leading cause of chronic liver disease in the United States, and the prevalence of hepatitis C-associated complications is increasing. Therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin has become the standard of care for chronic hepatitis C; the sustained response rate for treatment-naïve patients is about 55%. If certain patients fail to achieve a 12-week treatment milestone, an early virologic response, they may be taken off treatment early, potentially sparing them from unnecessary medication. Adherence is critical for treatment success. Although side effects continue to be a hindrance to the success of therapy, agents such as growth factors and antidepressants may help patients to maintain medication dosing and complete treatment. Therapy is generally recommended for those in whom the infection is most likely to progress to cirrhosis; however, there is continued debate about the suitability of certain patients for treatment, including those with persistently normal aminotransferase levels or acute hepatitis C and nonresponders to conventional treatment. Four broad groups of investigational therapeutic agents appear promising for future therapy: modified interferons and ribavirins, immunomodulators, viral life-cycle targets, and antifibrotic agents.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Achieving adherence to antiretroviral medications for pediatric HIV disease using an empirically supported treatment: a case report.

Adherence to antiretroviral medication regimens among human immunodeficiency virus positive-children is influenced by a number of psychosocial factors including characteristics of the child, the caregiver, the medical team, and the medications. To address these factors requires treatment approaches that are flexible and comprehensive. One such treatment approach is multisystemic therapy (MST), an empirically supported intensive home-based treatment approach that has been proven effective with other chronic pediatric conditions. This case report describes the use of MST with a poorly adherent, perinatally infected adolescent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Barriers to accessing HIV/AIDS care in North Carolina: rural and urban differences.

Many HIV-positive individuals face multiple barriers to care and therefore frequently experience unmet medical and support services needs. Rural areas often lack the infrastructure to support the delivery of comprehensive HIV services; however, few studies have examined service barriers faced by rural residents with HIV/AIDS, particularly in the South where two-thirds of people living with HIV/AIDS in rural areas reside. We surveyed North Carolina HIV/AIDS case managers (N = 111) employed at state-certified agencies regarding barriers to medical and support services that influence medication adherence for their rural and urban-living clients. For each of the seven barriers assessed (long travel for care, HIV-related stigma, and a lack of transportation; HIV-trained medical practitioners; housing; mental health services and substance abuse treatment), a substantial proportion of case managers (29-67%) reported it was a 'major problem'. For five of the seven barriers, rural case managers were significantly more likely to identify the barrier as a 'major problem'. Multivariate analysis revealed that rural case managers and case managers with more female clients reported a greater number of barriers. Because unmet medical and support service needs may result in poorer outcomes for HIV-positive individuals, barriers to these services must be identified and addressed, particularly in rural areas which may be highly underserved.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of osteoporosis in an older home care population.

BACKGROUND: Previous research indicates that many patients with fractures indicative of underlying osteoporosis are not receiving appropriate diagnostic follow-up and therapy. We assessed osteoporosis treatment coverage in older home care clients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis and/or prevalent fracture. METHODS: Subjects included 330 home care clients, aged 65+, participating in a longitudinal study of medication adherence and health-related outcomes. Data on clients' demographic, health and functional status and service utilization patterns were collected using the Minimum Data Set for Home Care (MDS-HC). A medication review included prescribed and over-the-counter medications taken in the past 7 days. Criteria for indications for osteoporosis therapy included diagnosis of osteoporosis or a recent fracture. Coverage for treatment was examined for anti-osteoporotic therapies approved for use in 2000. RESULTS: Of the 330 home care clients, 78 (24%) had a diagnosis of osteoporosis (n = 47) and/or had sustained a recent fracture (n = 34). Drug data were available for 77/78 subjects. Among the subjects with osteoporosis or a recent fracture, 45.5% were receiving treatment for osteoporosis; 14% were receiving only calcium and vitamin D, and an additional 31% were receiving drug therapy (bisphosphonate or hormone replacement therapy). The remaining 54.5% of subjects were not receiving any approved osteoporosis therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of undertreatment among a population of older adults with relatively high access to health care services raises concern regarding the adequacy of diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in the community.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of complementary therapies, adherence, and quality of life in lung transplant recipients.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to describe complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by lung transplant patients and to determine whether CAM users differ from nonusers with respect to health status, quality of life, or medical adherence. METHODS: A mailed survey seeking CAM, quality of life, and adherence information was sent to 145 lung transplant recipients, and 99 responded. RESULTS: The majority (88%) used at least 1 form of CAM (median, 2; range, 0-17). Prayer (68%), support groups (43%), and relaxation techniques (31%) were the most common. Only 44% of users reported discussing CAM with their providers. CAM users were adherent to their transplant regimen. Few differences were found between CAM users and nonusers. Education, high symptom burden, female sex, and depression symptoms were associated with various types of CAM use. CONCLUSION: Most lung transplant recipients are using CAM. Providers must explore potential for interaction or enhancement between CAM and standard therapy to optimize care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Assessing adherence to asthma medication and inhaler regimens: a psychometric analysis of adult self-report scales.

Poor adherence to recommended regimens is a substantial problem in the clinical management of adults with asthma and other chronic diseases. Research on adherence assessment is complicated by methodological difficulties including limitations associated with the use of self-report measures. In this study, psychometric techniques were used to analyze two self-report scales for assessing adherence to recommended medication and inhaler use regimens in adults with asthma. Results indicated that the two scales had standard deviations large enough to detect variation adherence, had adequate reliability, and reflected the impact of an intervention designed to improve adherence. The results supported the usefulness of these scales for research on adherence. Additional analyses indicated that the two scales could be combined if the research goal required an overall measure of adherence.

Administration, Inhalation↗