Predictors of outpatient medical appointment attendance among persons withHIV

Non-adherence to medical regimens is a critical threat to the health of HIV -infected individuals. Patients who do not adhere to routine medical care c annot fully benefit fr om the increasingly efficacious treatments available to them. Consistent attendance at medical appointments plays a central rol e in both prolonging life and enhancing quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS. By identifying why many patients do not reliably attend medi cal services, interventions can be undertaken to improve appointment-keepin g. The primary purpose of the present study was to identify factors predict ive of HIV-related medical appointment attendance. One-hundred-and-forty-fo ur outpatients in a public hospital ambulatory care HIV clinic were followe d for seven months. Demographic, medical care and psychosocial factors were measured in order to prospectively predict the percentage of missed clinic appointments by persons with HIV disease. Greater outpatient appointment n on-attendance was associated with younger age, minority status, less severe illness and lower perceived social support. Treatment duration, provider c onsistency, hopelessness and religious coping did not emerge as significant predictors of outpatient appointment-keeping in this sample. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in light of recen t medical advances in HIV/AIDS care.