Citation

Pecoraro A, Royer-Malvestuto C, Rosenwasser B, Moore K, Howell A, Ma M, Woody GE. AIDS Care 2013; 25(11): 1399-1406.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09540121.2013.772273

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although advances in pharmacotherapy have enabled people living with HIV/AIDS to live longer, fuller lives, some leave medical care, resulting in sub-optimal treatment and increased health risk to themselves and others. Forty-one patients who dropped out of an urban, publically funded primary care HIV clinic were contacted and encouraged by outreach staff to return. Participants were interviewed within two weeks of returning, and themes associated with dropping out and returning were elicited and content analyzed. Dropping out was associated with drug/alcohol use, unstable housing/ homelessness, psychiatric disorders, incarceration, problems with HIV medications, inability to accept the diagnosis, relocation, stigma, problems with the clinic, and forgetfulness. Returning was associated with health concerns, substance abuse treatment/recovery, stable housing, incarceration/release, positive feelings about the clinic, spirituality, and assistance from family/relocation. Because a large number of patients reported substance abuse, depression, and past suicide attempts. Clinic staff should assess substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation at each primary care visit and encourage patients to obtain substance abuse treatment and mental health care. Future interventions could include providing SBIRT and/or onsite mental health and substance abuse treatment, all of which may boost retention. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; United States; Adult; Female; Male; Middle Aged; adult; human; child; female; male; Residence Characteristics; Substance-Related Disorders; Urban Population; Suicide, Attempted; prison; suicidal ideation; depression; Primary Health Care; suicide attempt; stigma; HIV; Engagement; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; psychology; homelessness; Substance abuse; substance abuse; alcohol abuse; article; primary medical care; mental disease; clinical article; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; priority journal; middle aged; religion; Mental Disorders; organization and management; HIV Infections; patient attitude; primary health care; patient compliance; demography; urban population; Patient Dropouts; AIDS; antiretrovirus agent; patient participation; highly active antiretroviral therapy; Attrition; evaluation study; statistics and numerical data; Homeless Persons; Medication Adherence; Evaluation Studies as Topic; medication compliance; patient dropouts; Retention