Physician-Patient Relationship, Patient Satisfaction, Social Support and Antiretroviral Medication Adherence Among HIV Infected Adults

Abstract

This research investigated physician-patient relationship, patient satisfaction, social support and antiretroviral medication adherence among HIV infected adults at the Asankrangwa Catholic Hospital. The Survey research design was employed and the convenience sampling technique was used in selecting 257 HIV patients as participants. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using means and standard deviations. Hypotheses were tested using the standard multiple regression, hierarchical regression, mediation analysis and bootstrapping approach. The research outcome indicated an overall positive and good physician-patient relationship and patients were satisfied with the relationship they had with their practitioners and the health care system. Social services available to the HIV patients were from the family and significant others, and the study revealed a medium to high level of adherence among HIV patients. Support from significant others as well as patients’ satisfaction was found as a significant predictor of adherence to ART medication. Together, social support, patients’ satisfaction, and physician-patient relationship significantly predicted adherence to medication. Patients’ satisfaction mediated between support from family as well as support from significant others and adherence to ART medication. Gender, marital status and educational level were not found to be associated with adherence to medication. The study recommended that the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Hospital management and Health care practitioners put adequate measures in place to increase satisfaction among patients, and also involve Clinical health psychologists in the running of the ART centres as part of the clinical team to identify the psychosocial issues of clients and provide needed interventions.