Medication Adherence of People Living with HIV in Japan—A Cross-Sectional Study

Long-term medical care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) is critical for treatment efficacy, and various studies have examined reasons for antiretroviral therapy (ART) non-adherence. In Japan, doctors assume patients maintain high adherence. However, little is known about real-world treatment adherence. We conducted an anonymous self-administered web-based survey asking about adherence for a total of 1030 Japanese PLHIV who were currently on ART. Adherence was determined using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), for which scoring ranged from 0 to 8 and scores p p = 0.001), moderate to severe depression (p = 0.002, using the PHQ-9), and drug dependence (p = 0.043). Adherence was also influenced by a shared decision-making process, including treatment selection, doctor–patient relations, and treatment satisfaction. Adherence was mainly affected by treatment decision factors. Hence, support of care providers should be considered critical for improving adherence