How to investigate Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment ... - INRUD

How to Investigate Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment in Health Facilities: Adherence Indicators
Column M
• For labelling and packaging, first look at each of the dispensed ARV medicines and judge
whether it is—
o In a separate container or envelope
o Does each container or envelope contain
• Drug name
• Dose per time
• Number of times per day
To write Yes, all ARV medicine must comply, otherwise write No.
For dose per time, and number of times per day, you need to decide what is acceptable. A
question that comes up is —is 2TDS or 2BD acceptable? Most teams felt that this is adequate
for communicating with a professional but is not sufficient for communicating with a patient.
Column N
• 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
• Take the first antiretroviral and write the name (in agreed abbreviation).
Column P
• 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?
• Does the patient know the correct number of times they are meant to take the medicine
each day? Write Yes or No.
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