OBJECTIVES: Simplification of antiretroviral therapy enhances a @entity1 's adherence but a new formulation could also lead to new adverse events and changes in daily routine. This study compared medication adherence, tolerance and satisfaction among subjects switching from a two-tablet @entity15833 / @entity15832 / @entity488 regimen to a one-tablet regimen. METHODS: Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected and three surveys were administered at month 0 (=switch), and then 1 and 4-6  months after the switch: the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, the @entity645 -symptom index questionnaire, the Short @entity645 Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Swiss @entity645 Cohort Study (SHCS) two-item adherence questionnaire, and a questionnaire on daily combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) management. Medication adherence of a subgroup of subjects was routinely monitored using an electronic device (MEMS(   ) ). RESULTS: Eighty-eight subjects gave informed consent to participate in the study. The subjects' back-switch rate was 7% (six of 88). Subjects who did not back-switch preferred the one-tablet regimen (median  =  2; IQR  =  1.3-2.5; on a -3 to 3 scale), but no change in adherence was found (10 of 46 nonadherent subjects; P  =  1.00). The perception of treatment necessity score decreased (P  =  0.004), the efavirenz blood level increased (14%; P  =  0.04), and association/dissociation of cART with food intake evolved (P  =  0.01) after the switch. Subjects listed equivalent numbers of symptoms during the three visits. CONCLUSIONS: The one-tablet regimen was preferred but the number of back-switches was not negligible. The perception of treatment necessity score decreased with the simplification of the regimen from a two-tablet to a one-tablet formulation, which could negatively impact adherence. Switching is a sensitive time in a @entity1 's treatment life and professionals should pay particular attention to @entity1 's perceptions of treatment during such a transition.

Switching from a two-tablet regimen of @entity15833 / XXXX and efavirenz to a one-tablet regimen may affect @entity1 ' perceptions and drug management.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patient'] @entity645 :: ('57667', 'Species') :: ['HIV'] @entity488 :: ('MESH:C098320', 'Chemical') :: ['efavirenz'] @entity15832 :: ('MESH:C122114', 'Chemical') :: ['emtricitabine'] @entity15833 :: ('MESH:C096918', 'Chemical') :: ['tenofovir']
@entity15832 :: (MESH:C122114,Chemical) :: ['emtricitabine']
