Nurse’s role as a counselor and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients: a cross-sectional study in a public health center setting in Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction The role of a counselor is one of the factors affecting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between nurses' role as counselors and adhe­rence of HIV/AIDS patients to antiretroviral therapy. Material and methods This correlational study with a cross-sectional approach included eighty-eight HIV/AIDS patients from nine public health centers (PHC) in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. Patients were selected using purposive sampling technique, and data were obtained using a counselor role assessment questionnaire to assess nurses’ role. Moreover, Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8) questionnaire was applied to assess the level of medication adherence. Data were analyzed with Spearman’s rank correlation. Results This study showed that 62.5% of participants perceived nurses' role as counselors as not good, and more than half of patients had a high level of adherence (68.2%). There was a positive correlation between the nurses' role as counselors and level of adherence (p < 0.001, r = 0.365). Conclusions The better the nurses’ role as counselors, the higher the adherence of HIV/AIDS patients to antiretroviral therapy. It is essential to improve the quality of counseling services, so that patients' adherence remains good and continues to increase.

Keywords

• nurses
• counselors
• hiv/aids
• adherence
• antiretroviral