Social Support and Adherence: Differences Among Clients in an AIDS Day Health Care Program

Challenges in care management threaten health outcomes in persons living with HIV (PLWH), who also have other medical and psychiatric diagnoses, substance use problems, or adjustment issues (comorbid PLWH). Integrated primary care programs have been developed to address multiple care needs in comorbid PLWH. The effectiveness of these models has not been shown empirically, in part because of multidisciplinary approaches to care. Adherence and its relationship to social support are key factors in favorable outcomes in HIV. The authors measured social support and adherence among clients in AIDS day health care, an integrated primary care program for comorbid PLWH. The level of social support among AIDS day health care clients who were adherent to their antiretroviral therapy was reported to be significantly higher than social support among those who were nonadherent. Implications of the differences in social support and adherence in the population are explored and discussed. Implications for nursing practice and future research are also addressed.

Key words: adherence, AIDS day health care, comorbid, health outcomes, HIV, integrated care, social support