Identifying factors influencing medication non-adherence in HIV-positive patients in Iran using exploratory factor analysis approach

Non-adherence to medication in HIV-positive patients leads to the occurrence of HIV-related diseases and ultimately reduces the quality of life and immune system function of these patients. Therefore, the present study was conducted to identify and explain the factors that influence medication non-adherence in HIV-positive Iranian patients.

The present applied study was conducted in 2020-2021 using the descriptive method. First, by reviewing the research literature and interviewing experts in the field of HIV treatment, the main factors influencing medication non-adherence in HIV-positive patients were identified, based on which the research questionnaire was designed. Data were collected from 590 HIV-positive patients and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and   SPSS23 and LISREL software.

Four factors, namely organizational factors (16 items), individual factors (19 items), educational factors (7 items), and communication factors (7 items) were identified as effective factors for medication non-adherence in HIV-infected patients. Communication factors, individual factors, educational factors, and organizational factors with factor loadings of 0.76, 0.74, 0.73, and 0.71, respectively, had an impact on medication non-adherence in HIV-positive patients.

To improve medication adherence among HIV patients, behavioral disease counseling experts and therapists should pay more attention to communication factors (improving patients social support from family and friends) and individual factors (not coping with the disease state and the effects of stigma and disclosing the disease).