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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Christine K. Lim, MPH, MCP Hahnemann University, School of Public Health, 1505 Race Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215.387.3259, ckl24@drexel.edu, Augusta M Villanueva, PhD, School of Public Health, MCP Hahnemann School of Public Health, MS 660, 1505 Race Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, and Ramon A. Gadea, MD, Esperanza Health Center, 1331 E. Wyoming Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124.
Background: Adherence to the recommended treatment regimen has become an increasing challenge for HIV patients, disproportionately hitting hard those with multiple barriers. Adherence involves societal factors as well cultural beliefs which may inhibit both full and partial compliance. This study took place at Esperanza Health Center (EHC), a faith-based community health center serving a predominantly Latino population living in North Philadelphia, PA. Although an adherence model was implemented at EHC, adherence has increasingly become a problem among their HIV/AIDS patients. No formal monitoring or assessment was previously documented at EHC. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the present patient adherence level as well as to identify the factors influencing the patients’ decision to adhere to their recommended regimen.
Methods: During the winter of 2002, a 20-question survey was administered in both English and Spanish to HIV/AIDS patients at EHC. This provided the baseline data needed to assess the level of adherence to the treatment protocol. Through open-ended questions patients were asked their thoughts and concerns, providing a qualitative measure to the same survey.
Results: The research findings suggest that at Esperanza Health Center, the clinician-patient relationship is a critical factor that influences a patient’s level of adherence. Also, social support, gender, cultural context, and the actual treatment regimen are factors that influence a patient’s decision to take their prescribed medication. Findings from this study have implications for addressing adherence in the context of gender- and culture- specific influences for Latino populations and their health care providers.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adherence, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.