Medication Compliance in Patients Taking Antiretroviral Therapy in the El Rio Health Center AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP): A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine compliance rate of patients enrolled in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) at El Rio Health Center. Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study design that utilized medication refill data obtained from computerized pharmacy records. Lists were created for each anti-retroviral drug that included the following data: medical record number, medication, quantity dispensed, days supply and refill date. Patient age, gender and ethnicity were also obtained. The data was compiled into a database using Microsoft Excel©. The medication possession ratio (MPR) was calculated for each drug as well as for each drug group. The subjects in this study were patients enrolled in the ADAP at El Rio Health Center who obtained prescription refills between December 1, 2003 and November 30, 2004. The mean age was 44.56 (range 25-78); 94.8% were male and 5.2% were female. Ethnic distribution included 52.6% Caucasian, 39.6% Hispanic, 3.2%African American, 1.3% Asian, and 3.2% other. Results: The MPR was calculated for each drug as well as for each drug group. MPRs for individual drugs ranged from 0.586-0.906; MPRs for drug groups ranged from 0.717-0.756. Implications: The results of the study indicated that ADAP patients did not have adequate (>95%) compliance rates. The implications of the results are that patients are not fully benefiting from their medication, while at the same time promoting the development of resistant strains of HIV.