Seventy-six Chinese male HIV patients were interviewed on their use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). All except one had undetectable viral load, 28 had already progressed to AIDS. Forty-five (59.2%) had used TCM--11 infrequently and 33 commonly. No specific TCM recipe was preferentially used, while a variety of herbal tea and other over-the-counter health products of TCM in origin were reported. A minority (28.9%) have consulted a TCM practitioner in the preceding 6 months. Most patients admitted using TCM for the treatment of minor ailments (60.0%) and general health maintenance (57.8%), while western medicine was chosen for the therapy of major medical illnesses. TCM did not seem to have significant influence on the conventional HAART in this cohort. Many used TCM at a time interval from HAART in order not to affect the latter's effectiveness.

A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in a specialist HIV clinical service in Hong Kong. A total of 76 male Chinese patients who had been on highly active antiretroviral therapy for over one year were enrolled. All except one had undetectable viral load at the time of the assessment. Though a majority (76%) scored 100% in self-reporting adherence rating, one-third of these had in fact missed at least one dose in the preceding four-week period. Men having sex with men had a lower tendency of missing dose than heterosexuals (13.6% versus 42%, P=0.019). There was no association between missing doses and clinical staging or the regimens. The study revealed that missing doses may occur despite report of almost complete adherence, which, in the long run, could be a cause for concern.

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