The patient's perspective on life with antiretroviral treatment: results of an 887-person survey.

Soon after treatment with protease inhibitors became widespread, health care providers understood that adherence was essential to prevent emergence of drug-resistant viral strains. However, little was known about factors influencing adherence among patients with HIV infection. To help clarify the patient's perspective, AIDES, a French AIDS service consortium, conducted a survey of 887 patients between June 1 and July 15, 1997, in its 110 chapters throughout France and through its quarterly newsletter, Remaides. Fatigue and gastrointestinal side effects were the most frequent complaints, but patients reported that their greatest difficulty was that of confronting lifelong treatment with no possibility of discontinuation.