Improving coping skills for self-management of treatment side effects can reduce antiretroviral medication nonadherence among people living with HIV.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment side effects have a deleterious impact on treatment adherence, which is necessary to optimize treatment outcomes including morbidity and mortality.

Purpose

To examine the effect of the Balance Project intervention, a five-session, individually delivered HIV treatment side effects coping skills intervention on antiretroviral medication adherence.

Methods

HIV+ men and women (N = 249) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with self-reported high levels of ART side effect distress were randomized to intervention or treatment as usual. The primary outcome was self-reported ART adherence as measured by a combined 3-day and 30-day adherence assessment.

Results

Intent-to-treat analyses revealed a significant difference

SUBMITTER: Johnson MO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3030747 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature