Treatment compliance and therapy satisfaction in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Introduction: Adherence to the prescribed therapy is the most important factor influencing the treatment outcome. The aim of study was to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients’ compliance and satisfaction with recommended antiretroviral and concomitant therapies. Material and methods: A survey was conducted among HIV-infected patients. Therapeutic regimens for HIV and co-morbidities were described by the number of daily doses and total daily number of tablets. Patients’ satisfaction was assessed on a six-point scale, and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess the compliance with a recommended therapy. Results: A total of 120 patients (M = 87, F = 33) aged 18-72 (46 ± 15) years with HIV treated for 1-288 (109 ± 77) months filled in the questionnaire. Patients received 1-9 tablets in 1-3 doses a day as part of the antiretroviral therapy – 36% of subjects received only one tablet a day, and 74% received treatment in one daily dose. Eighty-nine percent of subjects were ‘very satisfied’ and ‘satisfied’ with the received anti-HIV treatment. Therapeutic compliance was the best for patients receiving only one tablet per day as single-tablet regimens (STR). Eighty patients also received 1-21 tablets in 1 – > 3 daily doses of co-morbidities therapy. Fifty-four percent of patients received non-HIV therapy in one single dose. Eighty-one percent of subjects were ‘very satisfied’ and ‘satisfied’ with treatment for other-than-HIV diseases. Conclusions: In the population under study, patients’ compliance and satisfaction with both HIV and non-HIV concomitant disease therapies were high. The compliance with recommended HIV therapy was the best for patients receiving only one tablet per day, and the satisfaction with antiretroviral treatment was greater in patients receiving ≤ 2 tablets per day.