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Optimal Recall Period and Response Task for Self-Reported HIV Medication Adherence

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Abstract

Self-reported measures of antiretroviral adherence vary greatly in recall time periods and response tasks. To determine which time frame is most accurate, we compared 3-, 7-day, and 1-month self-reports with data from medication event monitoring system (MEMS). To determine which response task is most accurate we compared three different 1-month self-report tasks (frequency, percent, and rating) to MEMS. We analyzed 643 study visits made by 156 participants. Over-reporting (self-report minus MEMS) was significantly less for the 1-month recall period (9%) than for the 3 (17%) or 7-day (14%) periods. Over-reporting was significantly less for the 1-month rating task (3%) than for the 1-month frequency and percent tasks (both 12%). We conclude that 1-month recall periods may be more accurate than 3- or 7-day periods, and that items that ask respondents to rate their adherence may be more accurate than those that ask about frequencies or percents.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIDA (R01DA015679), NCRR (K24 RR020300), the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (P30 AI42853), and the Tufts-New England Medical Center General Clinical Research Center (M01-RR00054).

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Correspondence to Ira B. Wilson.

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Lu, M., Safren, S.A., Skolnik, P.R. et al. Optimal Recall Period and Response Task for Self-Reported HIV Medication Adherence. AIDS Behav 12, 86–94 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9261-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9261-4

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