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7th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]27 – 29 April 2001, The Hove Centre, Brighton |
[AUTHOR(S):] R Horne1, V Cooper1, M Fisher2, D Buick1
1Center for Health Care Research, University of Brighton, and 2Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
BHIVA Conf 2001 Apr 27-29;7:O2
OBJECTIVE: To identify perceptions of HIV and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that influence the decision to accept or decline HAART.
METHODS: Consecutive patients offered HAART were invited to complete validated questionnaires assessing their perceptions of HIV (symptoms, timeline, personal consequences, amenability to control and emotional impact) and beliefs about HAART (perceptions of necessity for HAART and concerns about potential adverse effects). All treatment offers were made within BHIVA guidelines.
RESULTS: Twenty-three (66%) patients accepted HAART and 12 (34%) refused. The decision to accept or decline HAART was influenced by personal beliefs about HIV and HAART. Declining HAART was associated with doubts about its personal necessity (t=–3.12; P<0.005) and to a range of concerns about potential adverse effects (t=2.58; P<0.05). Individuals were significantly more likely to accept HAART if their perceptions of personal necessity outweighed their concerns about adverse effects of HAART (t=–4.18; P<0.001) and if they had experienced more HIV-related symptoms (t=–2.10; P<0.05), especially if these fluctuated over time (t=–2.55; P<0.05). People who accepted HAART were also more likely to believe that the illness would improve with time (t=–3.37; P<0.005). Patients with a higher CD4 count were more likely to doubt the personal necessity for HAART (r=–0.35; P<0.05) and were more likely to decline it (t=2.87; P<0.01). Viral load was not related to perceptions of HIV, beliefs about HAART or to treatment decisions.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified the types of beliefs that influence the decision to decline or accept HAART. The study is ongoing, but these preliminary findings have implications for the type of support offered to people who are faced with decisions about HAART.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: R Horne
010427
O2
Copyright © 2001 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD