Medication adherence practices of HIV/AIDS case managers: a statewide survey in North Carolina

The primary objective of this study was to examine the adherence-related practices and attitudes of HIV/AIDS case managers in North Carolina. All North Carolina HIV/AIDS case managers (n = 111) employed by agencies that were state certified to provide HIV case management were sent an adherence counseling survey. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the relationship of case managers' characteristics and attitudes with their medication adherence counseling practices. Of the 94 HIV/AIDS case managers who responded to the survey, the majority (65%) reported discussing medications with almost every client. The adherence-related behaviors that case managers most frequently provided were related to monitoring medication usage rather than providing medication instruction. Most case managers believed that medication adherence counseling is part of their role (77%); however, a substantial minority, (36%) did not believe that their adherence counseling skills were adequate. Multivariate analysis revealed that case managers who provided more adherence counseling services reported greater confidence in their adherence counseling skills, believed that adherence counseling is a HIV/AIDS case management role, and had a higher proportion of substance-abusing clients in their caseload. The adherence counseling activities of HIV/AIDS case managers can potentially supplement the counseling provided by other health professionals and promote greater adherence to medications. However, variability in perceived skills and adherence-related activities suggests that the role of case managers in medication adherence counseling needs to be better defined and appropriate training provided to meet the expectations of this role.