HIV patients often unaware of drug resistance
Karla Gale Mail & Guardian Online July 19, 200
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According to a recent survey of 385 physicians who treat HIV patients and 400 adults diagnosed with HIV/Aids, HIV patients have found it more difficult, compared with patients in the past, to keep abreast of the available information as the medication regimens have become more complex.
While 91% of physicians are “extremely” or “very” concerned about HIV drug resistance only 54% of HIV patients had the same level of concern. Although 61% of patients reported that they felt “knowledgeable” about HIV drug resistance, 59% were unsure if their own virus had become resistant to drugs. Even among those with a known resistant virus, 45% were unaware of which classes of drugs were involved.
Commentary
While patient education is all too often an insufficient agent for significant improvement in compliance, the deterioration of information commonly held by the HIV patient population is worrisome, especially given the complexity of the treatment program.