Randomized controlled study on pharmacist-led counseling to promote adherence to antiretroviral medication in India
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Abstract
The number of individuals in India who are HIV positive is increasing. We examine whether a pharmacist-led intervention may improve antiretroviral medication (ART) adherence for people living with HIV (PLWH) in this randomized controlled experiment. HIV-positive adults who had been on ART for more than three months were randomized to receive either standard treatment or a pharmacist-led intervention. Adherence metrics were gathered at 1) baseline, 2) just before the intervention was delivered, and 3) eight weeks later. CD4 cell count and self-reported adherence as assessed by the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) questionnaire were the main outcomes. When compared to the usual care group, the intervention group's CD4 cell counts increased statistically significantly after the intervention (p = 0.0054). Furthermore, there was an improvement in adherence in the intervention group, as participants were 7.74 times more likely to report missing their ART less frequently (p < 0.0001) and 5.96 times more likely to report not missing their medication for longer periods of time (p = 0.0086). The results validate the enhancement of HIV care and ART adherence.
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