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Psychosocial predictors of medication adherence among persons living with HIV

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Abstract

Background: Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), many have learned to live with HIV as a chronic illness. Adherence to medical regimens is extremely important for HIV patients. Purpose: To examine the extent to which medication adherence among HIV patients is related to social and psychological variables. Method: Data were gathered among 127 HIV patients (aged from 18 & #x2013;65 years) recruited at their quarterly consultation at Metz Hospital (France). Subjects completed a self-report adherence to medication scale, the Illness PerceptionQuestionnaire (IPQ), the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ), a French Value System Scale, a treatment satisfaction scale, and sociodemographic measures. Results: Analyses revealed significant associations between adherence and patients’ beliefs about treatment, satisfaction with treatment, confidence in the physician, some values (“other people, ” “god and children”), and duration of treatment and illness. Conclusion: The data suggest that patients’ beliefs about treatment are formed to a certain degree in the patients’ relationship with the physician. Furthermore, adherence seems to be related to personal values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, 33124-0751, Coral Gables, FL

    Aurélie Gauchet

  2. University of Metz, France

    Cyril Tarquinio & Gustave Fischer

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  1. Aurélie Gauchet
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  2. Cyril Tarquinio
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  3. Gustave Fischer
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Correspondence to Aurélie Gauchet.

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The authors thank Charles S. Carver for comments on earlier versions of themanuscript and S. T. Calvin for statistical suggestions.

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Gauchet, A., Tarquinio, C. & Fischer, G. Psychosocial predictors of medication adherence among persons living with HIV. Int. J. Behav. Med. 14, 141–150 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03000185

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