How to investigate levels of Adherence to antiretroviral ... - INRUD

Chapter 5
Data collection tools and how to modify, print and fill them in
Column N
1. For labelling and packaging of the non-ARV medicine, first look at each of the dispensed
drugs. Look to see if each non-ARV medicine was dispensed in a separate container or envelope?
Does each container or envelope contain the drug name, dose per time, number of times per day?
If all comply, write Yes; if not, write No.
The next part of the interview is the most important part. It is essential to put the patient as
much at ease as possible. Say in the local language, "Some patients find it difficult to take all
the medicines every day in exactly the way they are supposed to."
O P Q R
Name of first ARV in patient regimen # times per day Patient knows #
times per day
Y/N
# Doses missed in
last 3 days
Column O
2. Take the first antiretroviral and write the name (in agreed abbreviation).
Column P
3. Write the correct number of times per day this medicine should be taken (if you don’t
know, look at the packet).
Column Q
How many times a day do you take this medicine?
4. Does the patient know the correct number of times they are meant to take the medicine
each day? Write Yes or No.
Column R
In the last three days have you missed any doses? If so, in
the last three days how many times have you missed?
5. Write the number of missed doses (0, 1, 2, etc.)
Do the same for each separate ARV.
Columns S–V
6. If there are a total of two ARVs, write in columns S–V.
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