Correlates of Adherence to Varenicline Among HIV+ Smokers.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Low rates of adherence to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy may limit the effectiveness of treatment. However, few studies have examined adherence in smoking cessation trials thus, there is a limited understanding of factors that influence adherence behaviors. This brief report analyzes correlates of adherence to varenicline among people living with HIV/AIDS.

METHODS:

Study participants were recruited from three HIV care centers in New York City and enrolled in a three-arm randomized controlled pilot study in which all subjects received varenicline. At the 1-month study visit, there were no significant differences in adherence by study condition, therefore we combined treatment arms to examine correlates of adherence (n = 127). We used pill counts to assess varenicline adherence, defined as taking at least 80% of the prescribed dose. We conducted a multivariate path analysis to assess factors proposed by the information-motivation-behavioral skills model to predict adherence.

RESULTS:

Only 56% of smokers were at least 80% adherent to varenicline at 1 month. Adherence-related information, self-efficacy, a college degree, and non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity were associated with increased varenicline adherence. In path analysis, information and motivation were associated with increased adherence self-efficacy, and adherence self-efficacy was associated with increased adherence, but with marginal significance. These associations with adherence were no longer significant after controlling for race/ethnicity and education.

CONCLUSIONS:

Further exploration of the role of a modifiable correlates of adherence, such as adherence-related information, motivation and self-efficacy is warranted. Interventions are needed that can address disparities in these and other psychosocial factors that may mediate poor medication adherence.

• Authors: Donna Shelley, Tuo-Yen Tseng, Mirelis Gonzalez, Paul Krebs, Selena Wong, Robert Furberg, Scott Sherman, Antoinette Schoenthaler, Anthony Urbina, Charles M Cleland
• Journal: Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (Nicotine Tob Res) Vol. 17 Issue 8 Pg. 968-74 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1469-994X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26180221 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Nicotinic Agonists
• Varenicline

Topics

• Female
• HIV Infections
• Humans
• Male
• Medication Adherence
• Middle Aged
• New York City
• Nicotinic Agonists (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pilot Projects
• Smoking Cessation (methods)
• Varenicline (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)