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The effect of different intervention programs on treatment adherence of HIV-infected children, a retrospective study

Atie van der Plas1, Henriette Scherpbier, Taco Kuijpers

  • 1Academic Medical Centre, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.vanderplas@amc.uva.nl

AIDS Care
|December 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Treatment adherence programs significantly improve combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) adherence in children with HIV. A novel reward-based program, combined with social support, shows promise in reducing healthcare needs and improving outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Public health
  • Behavioral science

Background:

  • Long-term adherence to combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) is a significant challenge for children with HIV.
  • Effective adherence strategies are crucial for managing pediatric HIV and preventing treatment failures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of two distinct treatment adherence programs on cART adherence and supportive care needs in HIV-infected children.
  • To compare the effectiveness of a punitive approach versus a reward-based approach to improving medication adherence.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 31 HIV-infected children (ages 3-18) over a 6-year period.
  • Assessment of cART failures and supportive care measures (hospitalizations, foster care) at baseline and after two intervention programs.
  • Intervention 1: Negative reinforcement for treatment failure; Intervention 2: Positive reinforcement for optimal medication intake.

Main Results:

  • cART failures decreased from 29% at baseline to 6% after the first program and remained low at 10% during the second program.
  • The reward-based program significantly reduced the need for hospitalizations and foster home placements.
  • Both adherence programs demonstrated effectiveness in improving cART adherence.

Conclusions:

  • Treatment adherence programs are effective in enhancing cART adherence among pediatric HIV patients.
  • A novel reward-based intervention, integrated with social support, offers a promising positive reinforcement strategy.
  • This approach can potentially decrease the reliance on extensive supportive care measures in managing pediatric HIV.

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