Nonprescription and alternative medication use by individuals with HIV disease

OBJECTIVE: To examine the strength of the associations between predisposing , enabling, and need-fur-care variables and the self-treatment of HIV disea se; and to compare sociodemographic and illness-related factors associated with the use of vitamins, nonprescription medications, herbs, and recreatio nal substances among HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: Data were derived from 7887 interviews conducted as part of the AI DS Cost and Services Utilization Survey. The conceptual framework was the A ndersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Factors associated with no nprescription and alternative medication use were assessed using logistic r egression. Generalized estimating equations were applied to adjust variance estimates for within-person correlations of drug use over time. RESULTS: After adjusting for perceived health status, T cell count, and sta ge of disease, the results indicated that African-Americans were less likel y to use nonprescription drugs (odds ratio [OR] 0.65, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.81), vitamins (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.73), and herbs (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.22 t o 0.76), compared with non-Hispanic whites. Similarly, Hispanics were less likely to report use of herbs (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.98) or recreationa l drugs (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.76) than were non-Hispanic whites. Oppos itely, individuals who had a college education were more likely to use vita mins (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.50) and herbs (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.56 to 3.91 ). Enabling variables such as insurance status and income were generally as sociated only with use of recreational drugs. Need-for-can variables were g enerally associated only with use of nonprescription drugs and vitamins. CONCLUSIONS: Predisposing, enabling, and need-for-care variables from the A ndersen Behavioral Model were significantly associated with the use of four categories of drugs to self-treat HN disease. However, there was not a con sistent pattern across the drug categories.