Knowledge and Attitudes of HIV Infected Patients on the Adverse Effects of Antiretroviral Medicines in Ghana

Abstract

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). However, Adverse Effects (AEs) to ART pose major problems and threaten adherence to therapy. We evaluated the knowledge and attitudes of patients to ART following routine adherence counselling and education in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. This cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a questionnaire on socio-demographics, knowledge of AEs of antiretrovirals and attitude to AEs to 98 patients who were on antiretroviral therapy. A 3-point Likert-scale was used to assess knowledge of AEs of ART and a 5 point Likert-scale to assess attitudes to AEs. Mean rated scores for attitude to AEs were estimated and factor analysis was used to reduce the dimensions of the attitudes observed to identify relevant latent constructs. Sixty one percent of participants were females and most of the participants were aged 35-44 years (35%). Ninety nine percent of participants answered that they had been counselled on unpleasant effects of their medicines and 93% knew that all medicines could cause some unpleasant effects. Concerning attitude, 90% of study participants strongly agreed that they benefit from their medicines and get better taking them (mean rated score=4.87 ± 0.49) whilst 27% strongly agreed that medicines may have side effects (mean rated score=3.12 ± 1.55). Majority of the study participants (74%) strongly disagreed that there was no need to tell their doctor/pharmacist about AEs to antiretrovirals (mean rated score=4.60 ± 0.83). Factor analysis yielded two underlying dimensions (cognitive and behavioural/affective aspects) that described participants' attitude towards AEs. Study participants rating for participants' knowledge on AEs was good and exhibited positive attitudes to AEs of ART. Adherence counselling and education provided to PLWHA before initiation of antiretroviral therapy is beneficial and should be continued.

Factors associated with the occurrence of adverse events to antiretroviral therapy in adults and elderly living with HIV

“…In this aspect, it is noted that only 37.0% of patients reported receipt guidance on adverse events, a result that differs from a recent study conducted with patients on antiretroviral therapy, in which 99.0% were advised and reported to have knowledge regarding adverse events caused by the medications 25 . According to Jose et al 26 , knowledge of undesirable effects inherent to the use of medication is essential so patients more easily identify adverse events and know the best conduct to be adopted when they experience these effects, contributing to greater safety throughout the treatment.…”

Adverse drug reaction reporting by community pharmacists in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, 2016

“…A study among HIV patients in Ghana found that HIV patients are well informed about the adverse events of their medications and majority of them, 80.0% know they ought to report adverse events o their healthcare provider. 16 From our findings above, the recent campaign by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana to increase public awareness about ADR reporting can, therefore, be viewed as a step in the right direction to tackle low reporting of ADR in the country. It launched the Patient Engagement in Medicine Safety programme in June 2016 to enable patients to report adverse events of their medicines through community pharmacies designated as Patient Safety Centres.…”

“…A study among HIV patients in Ghana found that HIV patients are well informed about the adverse events of their medications and majority of them, 80.0% know they ought to report adverse events o their healthcare provider. 16 …”

HIV/AIDS patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practice toward anti-retroviral therapy medications’ adverse effects and associated factors in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital

“…The majority of participants agreed that they were informed about the AEs of their medications and educated about their clinical condition. Similarly, a study conducted in South Africa 12 and Ghana 15 found that people were well-informed about ART, but this contrasted with findings from other researchers who found that people were not well-informed about ART. 18 Even though most of the study participants know that all medicines, irrespective of how good they are, can cause some AEs, nearly 50 and 40% of participants did not know or were not sure about the AEs of particular medicines they were taking and what to do if it occurred, respectively.…”

“…The practice scale contained items that were scored as ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘not applicable’ ( https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139119300344 ). 12 , 14 – 16 …”