Longitudinal relationships between use of highly active antiretroviral therapy and satisfaction with care among women living with HIV/AIDS.

OBJECTIVES: We used longitudinal data to examine the roles of 4 dimensions of patient satisfaction as both predictors and outcomes of use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among women in the United States with HIV/AIDS.
METHODS: Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze time-lagged satisfaction-HAART relationships over 8 years in the Women's Interagency HIV Study.
RESULTS: Multivariate models showed that, over time, HAART use was associated with higher patient satisfaction with care in general, with providers, and with access/convenience of care; however, patient satisfaction was not associated with subsequent HAART use. Symptoms of depression and poor health-related quality of life were associated with less satisfaction with care on all 4 dimensions assessed, whereas African American race/ethnicity, illegal drug use, and fewer primary care visits were associated with less HAART use.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that dissatisfaction with care is not a reason for underuse of HAART among women with HIV and that providers should not be discouraged from recommending HAART to dissatisfied patients. Rather, increasing women's access to primary care could result in both increased HAART use and greater patient satisfaction.