A COMPARISON OF PATIENT INTERVIEW DATA WITH PHARMACY AND MEDICAL RECORDS FOR PATIENTS WITH ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME OR HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

To assess the reliability of information reported by patients with AID S or HIV infection, 123 homosexual men were recruited in Victoria, Aus tralia, in 1992-1993 and interviewed to collect data retrospectively a nd prospectively on HIV-related illness and treatment. These data were compared with information in medical and pharmacy records. There was no evidence of bias in the patient report of date of diagnosis of HIV infection or date or result of most recent CD4 count, although there w as considerable imprecision. Past and current prescription of AZT were recalled accurately by patients compared with medical records (kappa = 0.89 and 0.86, respectively), but previous HIV-related illnesses and enrollment in clinical studies or trials were generally recalled poor ly (kappa < 0.4 in some cases). Data collected prospectively on prescr iption of drugs and use of health care services were reasonably accura tely reported by patients. This analysis supports the need for routine assessment of the validity of patient-reported exposure and outcome d ata in epidemiological studies in order to minimize the possible biase s that can result from inaccurate information.