Interventions to enhance heart adherence in HIV/Aids health services in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, 2007

Abstract

The success of antiretroviral therapy for AIDS treatment depends on the maintenance of high rates of adherence to drug therapy. Despite the emphasis given to the question by the Brazilian STD / AIDS Program, the adherence technologies that are in course on outpatient services are not known. Based on the analysis of a semi-structured questionnaire distributed to all outpatient services of the State of São Paulo, this study describes the types of interventions that have been implemented. In the State of São Paulo, adherence to HAART is incorporated into the activities of outpatient services. Almost all services inform interventions administered to individuals, and the majority, at least one group intervention to improve adherence. However, in many outpatient services, adherence interventions, as well as the assessment of patient's adherence, take place during nursing and medical consultations. This indicates that the adherence technology approach consists predominantly of questioning and discussions with the patient, meaning that the professionals decide when and how they address adherence. The larger and more specialized services tend to have more qualified and more specific activities.