Sociodemographic characteristics associated with medical appointment adherence among HIV-seropositive patients seeking treatment in a county outpatient facility

Background. Adherence is a major problem facing HTV-seropositive patients. Low adherence has been associated with faster disease progression as well as development of drug-resistant strains of HIV. Thus it is critical to understand factors associated with treatment compliance. This study examined the independent contributions of disease severity, age, gender, household income, homelessness, ethnicity, and sexual orientation on appointment adherence. Methods. Participants (n = 671) scheduled for appointments in an outpatient county treatment facility for HIV-related medical care completed demographic questionnaires and clinic staff collected appointment attendance data. Results. Multiple regression analyses indicated that patients diagnosed with AIDS, older in age, and receiving a higher income were more likely to keep medical appointments. Additionally, African American ethnicity and identifying as heterosexual were associated with missing scheduled medical appointments. Conclusions. These data suggest that cultural and sociodemographic characteristics influence patients' adherence to outpatient services. Implications for interventions aimed at increasing medical adherence are discussed. (C) 2001 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.