Evergreen A
Using Technology to Assess the Impact of Alcohol Use on HIV Medication Adherence (306510)
*Daphne Lew, Saint Louis UniversityJulia Lopez, Washington University School of Medicine
Rachel Presti, Washington University School of Medicine
Stephen Scroggins, Saint Louis University
Enbal Shacham, Saint Louis University
Tim Trull, University of Missouri
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, alcohol, medication adherence, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), psychological distress, mental health
There are complex challenges to consistent medication adherence for HIV infection management. This study aimed to examine how real-time alcohol use patterns and mood fluctuations may influence medication adherence among 28 patients engaged in outpatient HIV care. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via a smartphone application was used to collect real-time measures of alcohol use frequency, alcohol use quantity, and mood. A MEMSCap system was used to assess medication adherence. Descriptive and multilevel analyses were conducted to identify patterns of alcohol use and mood throughout the 28-day study. Overall medication adherence in the sample was high and consistent throughout the study. Higher negative mood variability throughout the study period was correlated with higher number of total alcohol episodes. Individuals with more alcohol episodes also had reduced odds of medication adherence. This study provides initial evidence of the complicated patterns between behavior, mood, and medication adherence. Future studies should incorporate similar real-time data collection to better inform interventions and enhance medication adherence among individuals with chronic diseases.