Psychosocial Issues Influencing Treatment Adherence in Patients on Multidrug Rescue Therapy: Perspectives from Patients and Their Health Care Providers

Multi-drug rescue therapy (MDRT) is often used for the treatment of highly experienced patients who harbor HIV variants with decreased susceptibility to multiple antiretrovirals. Patients on MDRT typically have limited treatment options, and without treatment, their prognosis can be poor. Yet the decision to go on MDRT is not always straightforward as MDRT can be associated with significant challenges including multiple daily doses, higher pill burden, emerging toxicities, and drug interactions. All of these may compromise adherence, which is often a major reason why patients may need MDRT in the first place. Little is known about how patients and health care providers (HCPs) experience MDRT. This study sought to explore areas of convergence and divergence between patients and HCPs in order to identify gaps in treatment and factors that may impact adherence to MDRT. A qualitative interview method based on grounded theory was used. Twelve patients and seven HCPs completed a 60-minute semistructured interview. Patients were asked about challenges, facilitative aspects of staying on MDRT, the decision to initiate treatment, their role, and the role of HCPs in their health care. HCPs were asked about their experience working with MDRT patients, their role, and the role of the patient. Congruent themes emerged from the two groups: developing a working relationship, treatment factors, information requirements, and readiness for treatment. There were no discrepancies in role perspectives. Patients and HCPs agreed on the need to optimize patients' readiness, willingness, and ability to embark on MDRT to maximize adherence. HCPs assumptions about beginning MDRT based solely on medical indications must be checked and discussed to ensure patients' motivation. In conclusion, adherence to MDRT demands a substantial behavior change, recognized as a major challenge by patients. Allocating the time to make a commitment to treatment can optimize adherence. It is therefore crucial that patients be provided with time to make informed decisions, explore and resolve their willingness and readiness to commit to treatment, and maintain supportive relationships with their HCPs, all of which can optimize adherence to MDRT.