Efficacy of a Pill-Swallowing Training Intervention to Improve Antiretroviral Medication Adherence in Pediatric Patients With HIV/AIDS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. We aimed to retrospectively assess the efficacy of pill-swallowing training provided as a clinical intervention to referred pediatric patients with HIV in relation to improved adherence and subsequent related health outcomes. The primary goal of this study was to demonstrate participation in pill-swallowing training is associated with improved medication adherence as documented by routine pharmacy pill counts. Secondary objectives were to assess corresponding improvements in clinically observed biologic indicators of adherence, specifically, immunologic functioning (CD4⁺ T-cell%) and viral load, over time.