The effects of a pharmacist-delivered patient education programme on retention in human immunodeficiency virus care: A pilot study

Objectives: To determine the potential impact of a brief human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) educational intervention delivered by a pharmacist during a provider visit on patient knowledge and retention in HIV care. Methods: This study was performed in an HIV clinic at a large medical centre in Philadelphia. Patients had been attending the clinic for at least 1 year and were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Participants were randomized to standard care (SC) or SC plus a 10-min educational presentation (EP). Participants were followed over their next two scheduled visits. All participants received a baseline and end of study knowledge assessment. EP patients also received a knowledge assessment immediately following the presentation. A participant answering all assessment questions correctly was considered to have perfect knowledge. Participant retention in care was measured by attendance at provider visits, completion of laboratory work and adherence to ART. Key findings: Forty-five patients were enrolled; 24 received the EP. At baseline, two-thirds of participants (31/45) had nonperfect knowledge and most had nonperfect retention (31/45). Among those with nonperfect baseline knowledge, most had nonperfect retention (23/31, P=0.042). Following education, perfect knowledge improved in the intervention group (5/24 at baseline versus 16/24 post-EP, P=0.002) and maintained through study completion. EP patients were more likely to have perfect retention compared with SC patients at study visit two (17/24 versus 5/21, P=0.002) and study completion (16/24 versus 5/21, P=0.026). Conclusion: Brief education delivered by a pharmacist may improve patient knowledge and retention in HIV care.