RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PERSONAL TRAITS OF HIV PATIENTS AND THEIR ADHERENCE TO MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AND TREATMENT

Abstract

Study objective: To study the personal traits of HIV patients relevant to supporting their adherence to outpatient ART and follow-up and to evaluate an abridged version of five-factor questionnaire designed to assess relationships between the personal traits of HIV patients and their adherence to HIV treatment. Materials and methods: The study was carried out under real clinical practice conditions. Interviewing and a five-factor questionnaire were presented to 76 HIV patients, including 38 women, followed-up at Saint-Petersburg Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases. Patients’ adherence to treatment and follow-up was evaluated one year later. Results: Patients’ adherence to medical treatment and follow-up is influenced by personal traits. Among women, positive associations of adherence to medical treatment and follow-up with the factors «cooperation» (R=0,584), «self-awareness» (R=0,496), and «personal inner resources» (R=0,446) were found. Among men, positive associations with «personal inner resources» (R=0,543), «self-awareness» (R=0,390), and «cooperation» (R=0,329) and a negative association with «emotional stability» (R=-0,528) were found. Conclusion: Developing of adherence to medical follow-up and treatment may be hampered in HIV patients by preference for solitude and reluctance to social activity (novel contacts) and by poor willpower and motivation to reach recognized goals. The use of the abridged version of five-factor questionnaire for preparing HIV patients to ART is admissible in express assessments of potential adherence to treatment for timely detection of patients in need for psychological support.