Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Functional health literacy, medication‐taking self‐efficacy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy

2012; Wiley; Volume: 69; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06007.x

1365-2648

Alison M. Colbert, Susan M. Sereika, Judith A. Erlen,

HIV-related health complications and treatments

colbert a.m., sereika s.m. & erlen j.a. (2012) Functional health literacy, medication‐taking self‐efficacy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Journal of Advanced Nursing 69 (2), 295–304. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2648.2012.06007.x Abstract Aims. To report a study of the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence, as mediated by medication‐taking self‐efficacy, while controlling for the effect of key demographic variables (such as race, income and level of education). Background. Medication adherence is critical to successful HIV/AIDS self‐management. Despite simplified regimens and the availability of tools to assist with medication‐taking, adherence remains a challenge for many people living with HIV/AIDS. Design. Cross‐sectional, secondary analysis. Methods. Data for this study of 302 adults living with HIV/AIDS who were taking antiretroviral medications were collected from January 2004–December 2007. Medication adherence was measured using electronic event monitors. Bivariate analyses and stepwise regression were conducted to examine the associations among functional health literacy, medication‐taking self‐efficacy and HIV medication adherence. Results. Overall, functional health literacy was much higher than expected; however, adherence in this sample was sub‐optimal. Higher medication‐taking self‐efficacy was associated with higher medication adherence; however, functional health literacy was not significantly related to either medication adherence or self‐efficacy beliefs. Hence, medication‐taking self‐efficacy did not mediate the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence. Conclusions. Medication adherence continues to be an issue for people living with HIV/AIDS. Additional research is needed to understand the disparate findings related to functional health literacy and medication adherence in this and other studies examining this association.