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New Adherence Survey Conducted by BMS
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This press announcement was distributed by Bristol-Myers Squibb
"SURVEY PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO FACTORS INFLUENCING DRUG ADHERENCE AMONG HIV PATIENTS"
Dialogue between Healthcare Providers and Patients is Vital to Success, Along With Tailored Regimens, a regimen to suit the patient's life, not for patients to tailor their lives to suit the regimen, and Commitment to Treatment..... find a regimen with a dosing schedule that best matches their needs
PRINCETON, NJ - OCTOBER 18, 2005 - Results were released today from one of the largest national surveys on medication adherence issues for people living with HIV/AIDS. According to patients surveyed, adherence to HIV treatment regimens as prescribed was high; however, some misconceptions about what proper adherence means still remained.1 The survey was conducted by Richard Day Research (RDR) and underwritten by Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY).
The 403 Internet-survey respondents had an average of 8 years experience taking anti-HIV medications, and 85 percent reported they understood how to take their medications properly with 69 percent reporting complete adherence (> 95 percent) to their regimens.1 While 12 percent felt that taking their medication every day, on time, was a little more difficult or much more difficult than expected, 60 percent said it was much easier or a little easier than they expected. 1
Despite this positive attitude, more than half (55 percent) of survey respondents also thought it is acceptable to take their doses early or late, and almost one in five (17 percent) reported missing two or more doses within the past seven days.1 This misconception can have a negative impact on treatment success, as full adherence to anti-HIV medications is critical due to the increased likelihood of developing resistance to the drugs2 and, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) HIV/AIDS Bureau Guidelines, "a treatment's success can begin to diminish when patients are less than 95 percent compliant."2
"This survey shows an improvement in adherence based on past estimates across all diseases (approximately 50 percent)2, however, we need to continue to strive to better understand the different factors influencing adherence behaviors," said Judith Feinberg, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and principal investigator at the University of Cincinnati AIDS Clinical Trials Unit. "Overall, I think patients today are doing much better with adherence. The key is to have the healthcare provider and patient tailor a regimen to suit the patient's life, not for patients to tailor their lives to suit the regimen."
According to the DHHS Guidelines, healthcare providers can and should adjust regimens to suit a patient's lifestyle and address other issues such as side effects.3 While most survey respondents (87 percent) reported feeling a strong commitment to taking their pills as prescribed by their physician, almost seventy percent (68 percent) cited side effects or feeling ill as a major reason why taking HIV medications can sometimes be difficult.1 The main side effects influencing adherence cited by patients were fatigue (42 percent), diarrhea (40 percent), nausea (29 percent), problems with sleep (28 percent), depression (26 percent), and body shape changes (26 percent).1 The DHHS Guidelines also advise "when patients' regimens can be continually adjusted to be more effective and workable, the chance of adherence success has been found to increase."3
To help manage adherence issues, one-third of survey respondents said working with their healthcare provider to find a regimen with a dosing schedule that best matches their needs was the top reason for how they have become more adherent to their medications.1 Additionally, 74 percent said their healthcare provider is their primary source for information about how to take medications properly.1
"Adherence is both the challenge of a lifetime and a challenge for a lifetime, and healthcare providers and patients need to work together every step of the way," said Dr. Feinberg. "The provider-patient bond is fundamental for successful treatment of a
chronic illness, like AIDS, and therefore should be a top priority for everyone involved in the circle of care."
Regimen adjustments and lifestyle tips were among the top strategies cited by survey respondents for effective adherence. Working with their healthcare providers, respondents improved adherence by switching to regimens with lower pill burden (40 percent) 1; finding a regimen with dosing requirements matching their needs (33 percent)1; and switching to regimens with side effects that were more tolerable (30 percent).1 Additional adherence tips included using a pill container (48 percent); keeping pills in an obvious place as a reminder to take them (42 percent); and linking dosing to daily routines (37 percent).1 While adherence can be continuously challenging, staying compliant to an HIV regimen helped people living with AIDS feel in control of HIV (62 percent), worry less about having HIV (44 percent), feel healthier (43 percent) and have a sense of well-being (41 percent).1
Overall, survey respondents were satisfied with the quality of provider care on adherence issues1; however, 34 percent of respondents said their healthcare providers are talking very little or not at all about strategies and tips to help keep them adherent.1
"It is troubling to see that nearly one quarter (22 percent) of these patients do not believe their healthcare providers fully understand how difficult it is for them to take their medications. In addition, 26 percent of patients reported not being given a choice of treatment regimens that best suits their life.1" said Dr. Feinberg. "Patients and their providers need to constantly have candid, honest discussions about side effects, tolerability and lifestyle issues affecting adherence to maximize long-term treatment success."
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.
For a complete copy of the full survey results, please call 305-572-2151.
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About the Survey
The results of this study are based on an online sample of 403 persons living with HIV/AIDS. The maximum margin of error (at the 95 percent confidence level) for a sample of 403, assuming no bias, is +/- 5 percent. The survey was conducted June 2 - 6, 2005, by Richard Day Research of Evanston, IL. To qualify for the survey, a respondent had to be HIV-positive and currently be taking anti-HIV medications. On average, the responding persons had been living with HIV/AIDS for 11 years and had been taking anti-HIV medications for 8 years.
References
1. Richard Day Research. Patient Survey on Adherence to HIV Therapies. July, 2005.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The AIDS Epidemic and The Ryan White CARE Act Past Progress, Future Challenges 2002-2003.
http://hab.hrsa.gov/tools/progressreport/. Accessed August 22, 2005.
3. Seaton R. Providing HIV/AIDS Care in a Changing Environment. HRSA Care Action Newsletter. May 2005. http://hab.hrsa.gov/publications/may2005/. Accessed
August 22, 2005.
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