Functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

colbert a.m., sereika s.m. & erlen j.a. (2012) Functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Journal of Advanced Nursing 69(2), 295-304. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06007.x Abstract Aims. To report a study of the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence, as mediated by medication-taking self-efficacy, while controlling for the effect of key demographic variables (such as race, income and level of education). Background. Medication adherence is critical to successful HIV/AIDS self-management. Despite simplified regimens and the availability of tools to assist with medication-taking, adherence remains a challenge for many people living with HIV/AIDS. Design. Cross-sectional, secondary analysis. Methods. Data for this study of 302 adults living with HIV/AIDS who were taking antiretroviral medications were collected from January 2004-December 2007. Medication adherence was measured using electronic event monitors. Bivariate analyses and stepwise regression were conducted to examine the associations among functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and HIV medication adherence. Results. Overall, functional health literacy was much higher than expected; however, adherence in this sample was sub-optimal. Higher medication-taking self-efficacy was associated with higher medication adherence; however, functional health literacy was not significantly related to either medication adherence or self-efficacy beliefs. Hence, medication-taking self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence. Conclusions. Medication adherence continues to be an issue for people living with HIV/AIDS. Additional research is needed to understand the disparate findings related to functional health literacy and medication adherence in this and other studies examining this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]