HAART Adherence Among HIV-infected Persons and the Factors Affecting Treatment Adherence

University of Tartu

Status

Completed

Conditions

Medication Adherence

Acute HIV Infection

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Treatments

Behavioral: Advanced Adherence Counseling (AdvAdh)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT01369056

MARTH07237

Details and patient eligibility

About

The general objective of this study is to evaluate HAART adherence in Estonia and the factors affecting adherence; and the impact of an individual adherence enhancement counselling and treatment monitoring model (Advanced Adherence, AdvAdh), compared to the regular counselling received by HAART patients.

Full description

Specific HIV treatment - HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) can suppress HIV replication and consequently preserve the functioning of immune system. HAART therapy is a lifelong treatment with several different concomitantly administered oral medications. According to studies, low adherence to treatment is directly related to patient's knowledge and beliefs about HAART.

Studies have shown the success of different interventions increasing adherence to HAART, but additional studies need to be carried out in order to determine the most effective components of the interventions and the methods most suitable considering the local context, that could be used in everyday work and with limited resources.

The first places to implement the activities directed at improving treatment adherence are medical institutions, i.e. the departments of infectious diseases where HIV-positive individuals receive HAART treatment.

The aims of the study are:

to determine the rate of adherence to HAART and its associated factors;
to conduct a small-scale intervention (randomised controlled) study implementing a brief adherence counseling targeting persons receiving HAART.

Enrollment

150 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

HIV infected;
≥18 years of age;
speak and read either Estonian or Russian;
receiving or starting a HAART regimen

Exclusion criteria

triple class antiretroviral drug resistance, as determined from a prior resistance test performed in clinical practice, defined according to International Antiviral Society - USA (IAS-USA) interpretive guidelines for genotypic resistance mutations