Open AccessCrystal Clear with Active Visualization: Understanding Medication Adherence Among Youth Living with HIV
Author(s) -
Joan Christodoulou,
Sue Ellen Abdalian,
A. Jones,
Georgia Christodoulou,
Stephen L. Pentoney,
Mary Jane RotheramBorus
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-019-02721-3
Subject(s) - health psychology , intervention (counseling) , public health , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antiretroviral therapy , viral load , visualization , medicine , standard of care , psychology , clinical psychology , family medicine , nursing , computer science , data mining
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among youth remains low. We piloted an adapted active visualization device that demonstrates how ART works in the body. Youth living with HIV were randomized to: (1) standard care (n = 14) or the (2) adapted active visualization intervention (n = 14) and 71% of the sample (n = 19) were re-assessed on viral load, adherence behaviors, and illness perceptions 2.5 months later. Intervention youth had lower viral loads, reported less difficulty in adhering to ART, and more motivation and control over their HIV than standard care at follow-up. Active visualization may be an acceptable tool to address ART adherence among youth.