Pillboxing: An Innovative Approach to Treatment Adherence
Available treatments now offer HIV infected individuals the opportunity for improved health, quality of life and a longer life span. However, long-term adherence to a medication regimen is essential in achieving and maintaining optimal health. A goal of the Greenwich House HIV Primary Care Program is to educate and assist clients so that they will benefit fully from recent advances in the treatment of HIV through the use of antiretroviral therapy.
Some individuals have significant issues in their lives that may interfere with their taking medications as prescribed. Pre-filled pillboxes are one of several tools offered to clients to improve adherence. Currently the Primary Care Program provides 30 clients with weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pillboxes pre-filled by a pharmacy in the community according to the prescriptions of the medical providers and delivered to the program. Clients who agree to participate in this activity are initially placed on a weekly and then a less frequent schedule, according to their needs.
A benefit of this activity is that it brings these clients who are at high risk of non-adherence into the program on a frequent basis where they can see several members of the multidisciplinary team on the same day, while picking up their medications. This allows them to be medically monitored and receive counseling regularly.
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