Medication adherence practices of HIV/AIDS care providers in North Carolina

3027.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 4

Abstract #13052

Medication adherence practices of HIV/AIDS care providers in North Carolina

Scott R. Smith, MSPH, PHD, School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 205-J Beard Hall, PPES, CB#7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, 919-966-7558, ssmith@unc.edu, Susan Reif, MSW, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Department of Health Policy and Administration, CB# 7400, McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, Dawn Rogers, MPH, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, CB#7400, Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, Stephen G. Sherman, MS, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health and Human Services, HIV/STD Prevention and Care Section, PO Box 29601, Raleigh, 27626-0601, and Carol Golin, MD, Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Airport Road, CB#7590, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590.

Most investigations of antiretroviral adherence have studied patients' knowledge and behavior. Consequently, little is known about HIV/AIDS care providers' knowledge, practices, and barriers in promoting adherence. Since access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy may ultimately depend on several factors, including characteristics of health providers and the services they offer, a better understanding of providers may be needed to develop comprehensive intervention programs. In this study, pharmacists, case-managers, and physicians who care for individuals with HIV disease in North Carolina (NC) were surveyed about their adherence practices. Pharmacies participating in the NC AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) were identified through databases maintained by the state health department. Using state licensure information, the official pharmacist-manager of each pharmacy was identified. Similarly, a list of HIV certified case-management agencies was provided by the state department of health. Each agency was called to ask for names of individuals working as HIV case managers within the organization. A prescription tracking database maintained by a commercial vendor was used to identify North Carolina physicians whose name appeared on at least one prescription claim for a protease inhibitor in 1999. 420 pharmacists, 125 case-managers, and 617 physicians were identified and mailed a cover letter describing the study, a six-page survey about HIV/AIDS care, a postage prepaid return envelope, and a cash incentive. This presentation will highlight the findings from the survey and discuss the collaborative role of physicians, pharmacists, and HIV/AIDS case-managers in facilitating medication adherence in HIV disease.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants should be able to

describe North Carolina HIV/AIDS care providers' attitudes, beliefs, and practices, that contribute to patients' antiretroviral medication-taking behavior; and
discuss ways physicians, pharmacists, and case-managers are able to work collaboratively to facilitate medication adherence.

Keywords: Adherence, Service Delivery

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: North Carolina AIDS Drug Assistance Program
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA