Effects of a treatment adherence enhancement program on health literacy, patient-provider relationships, and adherence to HAART among low-income HIV-positive Spanish-speaking Latinos

AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2005 Nov;19(11):745-59. doi: 10.1089/apc.2005.19.745.

Abstract

The impact of an adherence enhancement program for low income HIV-infected Spanish-speaking Latinos on health literacy, patient-provider relationships, and adherence to HAART was examined. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months for participants (n = 85) randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a comparison group; 69 (81%) remained in the study for the entire 6-month duration. The intervention group scored significantly better than the comparison group on 3 of 5 measures of HIV health literacy at 6 weeks and on 2 of 5 measures, at 6 months. While there was a weak trend for the intervention group to report an increase in self-efficacy of medication adherence management, baseline to 6 weeks, no other changes were significant. Perceptions of the quality of relationship and communications with their HIV-treating physicians improved both at 6 weeks (p = 0.04) and at 6 months (p < 0.001). The comparison group showed little change baseline to 6 weeks and baseline to 6 months. While there was a trend for the pilot group to report better medication adherence, these differences were not statistically significant. Further evaluation of the impact of this adherence enhancement program is needed.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • Communication*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Education
  • Health Status
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Los Angeles
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Poverty