Sustained antiretroviral treatment adherence in survivors of the pre-HAART era: attitudes and beliefs

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Abstract
International audienceThe objective of this study was to assess adherence of HIV-1–infected patients who started treatment in the pre-HAART era, and to determine variables associated with better adherence, including relevant attitudes and beliefs. This is a cross-sectional study enrolling patients who had received antiretroviral therapy for ≥10 years. Adherence was evaluated through self-reporting and plasma drug concentrations. Treatment variables, attitudes and beliefs were collected during structured interviews. The results show that for 87 patients the median (interquartile range) time on therapy was 13 (10-19) years; 80 were on therapy at the time of analysis. Adherence was ³95% in 54 patients (67.5%), 90–94% in 22 (27.5%), and 90% in most patients on antiretroviral therapy for ≥10 years. Adherence was more related to beliefs about health and illness than to the characteristics of medication or level of knowledge about treatment. Care adherence interventions should include assessment of health beliefs

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