Abstract
Recent advances in the medical management of HIV offer the potential for increased longevity, improved quality of life, and the treatment of HIV as a chronic, rather than terminal, illness. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has required the necessity of strict adherence to complex medication regimens. As a vital factor in the successful outcome of HAART therapy, adherence-focused treatment represents a teaching opportunity for practitioners involved in the care and management of persons who are HIV positive. Scores of articles have been published regarding nonadherence, and numerous strategies have been employed to encourage adherence. Despite these efforts, medication adherence continues to present problems for patients and health care providers. This article discusses prior and existing adherence interventions for people living with HIV and outlines the rationale related to the development of a structured protocol, the Medication Adherence Training Instrument (MATI), for the evaluation and enhancement of HIV medication adherence by health care providers. The key components to the MATI throughout all sessions are to provide information, enhance motivation, and assess current levels of adherence and HIV-related knowledge.
