The Evaluation of Medication Adherence in Patients Infected With HCV Receiving Protease Inhibitors: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Adherence to treatment is essential for hepatitis C cure. Studies show the complexity of the treatment due to side effects, many pills, and rigor in the schedules. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to treatment with protease inhibitor in patients with hepatitis C. It is a longitudinal, observational, prospective pilot study with patients with hepatitis C genotype 1. Bimonthly consultations and biweekly calls for 20 weeks were performed. Evaluation methods for adherence were Measure of Adherence to Treatment score, patient report, count pills, and sustained virological response. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. Mean age was 54.0 ± 8.72 years; 50% were men, educational level was 7.9 ± 3.89 years for the study, and intake of pills was 2.2 ± 1.60 per day. Adverse events reported were fatigue (90.9%), muscular pain (72.7%), and nausea (68.2%). In total, 71.4% of patients took 100% of medications and were classified as having a high degree of adherence to treatment. The sustained virological response was not significant in relation to the high or low adherence degree. Measure of Adherence to Treatment score is a good instrument to measure adherence to protease inhibitor treatment. The adherence of patients undergoing long-term and complex treatments improves when the multidisciplinary team follows up every 7-15 days. The patient's access to the team through additional phone calls or medical/nursing appointment is essential to improve adherence.

• Authors: Suzana Muller, Aline Patricia Brietzke, Deivid Cruz Dos Santos, Michelle Moraes Jacinto, Matheus Truccolo Michalczuk, Mário Reis Álvarez-da-Silva
• Journal: Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (Gastroenterol Nurs) 2019 May/Jun Vol. 42 Issue 3 Pg. 259-268 ISSN: 1538-9766 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31145250 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Protease Inhibitors

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy, psychology)
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Medication Adherence
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• Prospective Studies
• Protease Inhibitors (therapeutic use)