January 2, 2008

Counseling Programs May Not Guarantee Med Adherence

A study published in the December 15 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes shows that while counseling programs are proven to help people with HIV adhere to their drug regimens, their effectiveness drops just months after their completion, the UK web resource AIDSmap reports (aidsmap.com, 1/2).

After studying an adherence program—consisting of 15 individual counseling sessions over a period of 15 months—researchers with the United States-based Healthy Living Project found that there was no difference in drug adherence between groups that received counseling versus those that did not just five months after program completion.

Both groups reported a mean adherence of 80 to 85 percent at months 20 and 25. At month 15—the final month of the program— the counseled group reported a mean adherence of roughly 90 percent, which was 10 percent higher than that of the group that was not counseled during the same month.

According to AIDSmap, researchers conclude that post-counseling support may be necessary to ensure that adherence support programs ensure long-term results.

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Previous Comments:

Peter Maingi, Nairobi, 2009-01-15 04:26:13
The adherence counselor should not be discouraged with the research findings but should inform there clients on all the facts an importance of adherence

Sky, Queens, 2008-01-06 17:02:18
I think that these programs are not the answer to meds adherence. Alot of positive people think that once they get their viral loads down to undetectable and their t-cells up to a decent number they will be just fine. I think a great example to use would be penicillin most people dont finish their prescriptions because they feel fine, even though the doctor warns people (Hiv+ or Neg) to do so. So, how can a counselor teach people to adhere to meds program for a lifetime? Impossible.