Adherence to antiretroviral therapy assessed by unannounced pill counts conducted by telephone

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Unannounced pill counts conducted in patients' homes is a valid objective method for monitoring medication adherence that is unfortunately costly and often impractical. Conducting unannounced pill counts by telephone may be a viable alternative for objectively assessing medication adherence. PURPOSE: To test an unannounced pill count assessment of adherence conducted by telephone. METHODS: HIV-positive men and women (N=77) in Atlanta GA completed an unannounced telephone-based pill count immediately followed by a pill count conducted in an unannounced home visit. RESULTS: A high degree of concordance was observed between phone and home-based number of pills counted (Intraclass correlation, ICC=.997, 95% CI .995-.998, P