Pediatric Impact: Promoting Adherence to Medications Among HIV-infected Children

The objective of this research is to develop and evaluate an intervention to promote adherence to HIV-medications among children aged 5-12 years. The research will be conducted at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, NY; Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC; and at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC. The research will employ a randomized case control study design. Participants (dyads composed of an HIV-infected child and his/her primary caregiver) will be recruited from eligible families within each site's HIV clinic. After the study is explained and informed consent and assent (where applicable) are obtained, participants will be randomly assigned to either the enhanced intervention group (cases) or the minimal intervention group (controls). Participants assigned to the enhanced intervention group will receive a multi-component intervention, specifically tailored to their family's needs, which includes a maximum of 24 hours of contact conducted over a period of up to 12-weeks, and a 1-3 hour booster session approximately six weeks after the intervention phase is completed.

The enhanced intervention will be coordinated by an onsite Adherence Coordinator (AC) and implemented primarily by the AC or another member of the study staff. Participants assigned to the comparison group will receive a minimal intervention that will consist of an educational video and health education pamphlets about general health. All participants will continue to receive the standard-of-care at their respective sites during the study period. Assessments of all participants will be done at baseline (Assessment A), 1 month (Assessment B), and 4 months (Assessment C) following the intervention. Each assessment will include an interview to collect the following information from families:

• socio-demographic data;
• parental/child report of child's medication taking or adherence (self-reported adherence);
• mental health functioning (of parents and child, using standardized measures);
• HIV (of parents) and medication knowledge (of parents and child);
• medical review of child's hospital chart.

The baseline assessment of adherence to medications will include electronic recording of medication taking via a MEMS® cap done over a four-week period. Ongoing electronic assessment of adherence will occur for the duration of the study. Pharmacy refill data will also be obtained for a portion of the study participants for whom data are available.

Inclusion criteria

• Families with a child between the ages of 5 and 12 years old who is HIV-infected and who receives care at participating hospitals
• Informed consent for and assent from the child
• Informed consent for the primary caregiver (person responsible for most of the child's medication delivery) must be obtained. The parent/legal guardian must be able to give informed consent and willing to comply with protocol requirements.
• The HIV-infected child must be currently prescribed an antiretroviral therapy regimen.

Exclusion criteria

• The child or caregiver cannot respond to self-report questions because of cognitive impairments.
• The child receives home health care in which the home health care aide dispenses all of the child's medication (essentially resulting in directly observed therapy for that child).
• The child and/or the caretaker does not speak English or Spanish.