Table 1.
Design characteristics of the studies included in our systematic review
| First author, Year of publication [Reference number] | Setting | Type of Study | Patient Population | Type of Medication (*) |
| Laniece I., 2003 [23] | Senegal, Dakar, 3 health structures | Prospective cohort study (2 years) | 158 HIV(+) adults, enrolling into ISAARV (Senegalese ARV Access Initiative) | HAART, mainly |
| Mohammed H., 2004 [26] | USA, Non-urban Louisiana, 8 HIV outpatient clinics | Retrospective study (clinic survey) (30 months) | 273 HIV(+) adults, using HAART | HAART |
| Eldred L.J., 1998 [27] | USA, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Hospital, HIV Outpatient Clinic | Retrospective study (clinic survey) (9 months) | 244 HIV(+) adults, Medicaid-insured, at least one previous clinic visit in previous 6 months + prescription of antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months | Antiretroviral monotherapy, mainly |
| Kleeberger C.A., 2004 [24] | USA, Multicenter (4 centres in Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles) | Prospective cohort study (2 years) | 597 HIV(+) homosexual men, using HAART + participating in MACS (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study), between patients' 30th and 33rd visit [only 486 provided needed data on follow-up] | HAART |
| Peretti-Watel P., 2005 [28] | France, 102 hospital departments delivering HIV care | Cross-sectional study (national survey) (1 year) | 1809 HIV(+) adults (homosexual men, heterosexual men, and heterosexual women), French speaking, diagnosed as HIV(+) for at least 12 months, living in France for at least 6 months + sexually active during the prior 12 months | HAART |
| Fong O.W., 2003 [15] | Hong Kong, Integrated Treatment Centre of the Department of Health | Retrospective study (1 year) | 161 HIV(+) adults, Chinese in origin + treated with HAART for at least 12 months (at the end of 2000) | HAART |
| Kleeberger C.A., 2001 [25] | USA, Multicenter (4 centres in Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles) | Prospective cohort study (6 months) | 539 HIV(+) homosexual men, during their 30th visit to MACS | HAART, mainly |
| Goldman D.P., 2002 [16] | USA | Retrospective analysis of prospective study, (2 years) | 2864 HIV(+) adults, participating in HCSUS (HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study [only 2267 provided needed data on last follow-up] | HAART, mainly |
| Golin C.E., 2002 [14] | USA, North Carolina, County Hospital HIV Clinic | Prospective cohort study (1 year) | 117 HIV(+) adults, English or Spanish speaking + newly initiating HAART (PI or NNRTI) | HAART |
| Singh N., 1999 [3] | USA, 3 Medical Centres, HIV Clinics | Prospective cohort study (6 months) | 123 HIV (+) adults, followed in any of the clinics | Antiretroviral treatment, not specified |
| Kalichman S.C., 1999 [29] | USA, Georgia, Atlanta, community area | Community-based study (Regional survey) | 184 HIV(+) adults, receiving triple-drug combination | HAART |
| Weiser S., 2003 [30] | Botswana, 3 private clinics (2 in Gabarone, 1 in Francistown) | Cross-sectional study (Clinic survey) (7 months) | 109 HIV (+) adults | Antiretroviral treatment (HAART 31%) |
| Morse E.V., 1991 [21] | USA, Louisiana, New Orleans | Nurse-based survey (6 months) | 40 HIV (+) adults, asymptomatic + participating in ACTG (AIDS Clinical Trials Group) [the 20 most and the 20 least adherent patients] | ZDV or placebo |
| Gebo K.A., 2003 [31] | USA, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University, HIV Clinic | Cross-sectional study (Clinic survey) (8 months) | 196 HIV (+) adults, enrolling in the HIV Clinic + taking at least 1 antiretroviral medication | Antiretroviral treatment, not specified |
| Duong M., 2001 [32] | France, Dijon Hospital AIDS day-care Unit | Prospective cross-sectional study (5 months) | 149 HIV (+) adults, receiving drug regimens including 2 nucleoside analogues + 1 or more PIs | HAART |
| Ickovics J.R, 2002 [4] | USA, Multicenter (21 collaborating units) | Prospective analysis of Randomised Controlled Trial (24 weeks) | 93 HIV (+) adults, participating in ACTG (AIDS Clinical Trial Group) protocol 307 | dT4+ DLV+IDV, ZDV+3TC+IDV, ZDV+DLV+IDV |
| Singh N., 1996 [22] | USA, Pittsburgh VA Medical Center | Prospective study (12 months) | 46 HIV (+) male adults | ZDV only (78%), ZDV + ddI (13%), ddI only (8%) |
(*) Abbreviations in medication: HAART = highly active antiretroviral treatment, ZDV = zidovudine, dT4 = stavudine, DLV = delaviridine, IDV = indinavir, 3TC = lamivudine