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An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
Literacy, self-efficacy, and HIV medication adherence.
Michael S Wolf1, Terry C Davis, Chandra Y Osborn
1Health Literacy and Learning Program (HeLP), Institute for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. mswolf@northwestern.edu
Patient Education and Counseling
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Low patient literacy significantly increases the risk of poor HIV medication adherence. Patient self-efficacy, not just knowledge, plays a crucial role in mediating this relationship.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Literacy
- HIV/AIDS Research
Background:
- Patient literacy is a critical determinant of health outcomes.
- Understanding factors influencing HIV medication adherence is essential for effective disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between patient literacy and adherence to HIV medications.
- To assess the mediating effects of treatment knowledge and self-efficacy on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- 204 HIV patients in infectious disease clinics were interviewed.
- Literacy assessed using Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM).
- Medication adherence and self-efficacy measured by Patient Medication Adherence Questionnaire (PMAQ).
Main Results:
- 30.4% of patients reported suboptimal adherence; 31.4% had low literacy.
- Low literacy was associated with a 3.3-fold increased risk of non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
- Patient self-efficacy, not knowledge, significantly mediated the effect of low literacy on adherence.
Conclusions:
- Low health literacy is a significant risk factor for poor HIV medication adherence.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing patient self-efficacy, alongside knowledge transfer, to improve adherence across all literacy levels.
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