Assessment of side effects coping practices of HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy

• Published in: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety Vol. 21; no. 12; pp. 1302 - 1310
• Main Authors: Agu, Kenneth Anene, Oparah, Azuka Cyriacus, Ochei, Uche M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2012; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-HIV Agents - adverse effects; Antiretroviral drugs; antiretroviral therapy; coping practices; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug therapy; Female; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - psychology; HIV-infected patients; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Nigeria; pharmacoepidemiology; Side effects; Nigeria
• ISSN: 1053-8569; 1099-1557
• DOI: 10.1002/pds.3352

ABSTRACT Purpose The study assessed coping practices to HIV treatment side effects among HIV‐infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in selected hospitals in Nigeria. Methods In a cross‐sectional study, Side Effects Coping (SECope) instrument was administered to 3650 HIV‐infected patients receiving ART in 36 hospitals. Patients were provided pre‐treatment information on side effects of antiretroviral drugs. Factor analysis was performed using principal components extraction with varimax rotation. Factors selected for rotation had eigenvalues >1. Mean scale scores above midpoint of 3.18 on five‐point scale were regarded as positive coping practices and below as negative practices. Chi‐Square was used for inferential statistics; P < 0.05 used to determine statistical significance. Results Mean of SECope instrument return rates was 47.5% (95%CI, 37.1–57.9). Data from 2329 (63.8%) participants were analyzed: 63.1% females and 63.9% aged 25 to 44 years old. The mean SECope scale score (±SD) was 3.18 (±0.80); mean subscale scores (±SD) were 3.52 (±0.20) positive emotion focused coping, 2.82 (±0.18) information seeking, 2.57 (±0.30) social support seeking, 2.34 (±0.39) taking side effect medications, and 4.43 (±0.10) non‐adherence. Five extracted factors accounted for 67.2% of cumulative variability. All items had very significant loadings of 0.50 or greater. All subscales except positive emotion focused coping were associated with age (p < 0.05). Non‐adherence and information seeking subscales were associated with employment status (p < 0.05). Taking side effect medications was associated with educational status (p < 0.05). Conclusion The study reported positive coping practices in positive emotion focused coping and non‐adherence subscales. Non‐adherence as a coping strategy was not significant contrary to previous research finding. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.