Document 1081
 DOCN  M94A1081
 TI    Importance of home attention and follow up to succeed in therapeutic
       compliance to clinical trials in Mexico City: mobile unit.
 DT    9412
 AU    Luna M; Martinez J; Navarro S; Villegas M; Garcia L; Palacios M; Mayar
       M; Valdespino JL; Sepulveda J; INDRE, Mexico.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):213 (abstract no. PB0864). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371494
 AB    INTRODUCTION: In Mexico, HIV/AIDS affects special groups such as young
       people from lower socio economic strata. High costs of drugs and
       specialized medical care makes follow up and treatment very difficult.
       Clinical trials conducted by health institutions are for this group an
       alternative of multidisciplinary attention and for most of them, the
       sole option of care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the mobile
       unit's field strategies: recruitment, follow up and home attention to
       the participants in clinical trials. METHODS: Clinical trials were
       initiated on December 91. To accomplish their objective a mobile unit
       was adapted to fulfill different activities such as HIV detection and
       home visits. Two nurse/counselors with specialized training on HIV/AIDS
       health care perform the home visits in order to give efficient and
       objective attention according to specific symptoms of each patient.
       Confidentiality was assured. RESULTS: From September 1993 to February
       1994 the mobile unit has visited 170 home for 130 patients of 270
       incluided in clinical trials. 65% have returned to the care center to
       receive their treatment and follow up after one single visit, 15% gave
       us a false adress so we could not find them, 20% have required 2 or more
       visits in order to return to the care center. 90% of all visits are to
       lower socioecomic areas of the city. The age rank was 21-65 years old
       (average 26 years old), 85% men of lower socio economic strata,
       schooling high school or less; 70% were asymptomatic, 30% with symptoms
       such as malnutrition, candidiasis, pneumoniae, diarrhea, wasting
       syndrome. Family members, spouses and friends are trained so they can
       fulfill some care activities, this makes possible their integration to
       the patients processes and improves the quality of attention, family and
       friends are motivated to be informed about HIV/AIDS prevention.
       DISCUSSION: The mobile unit's work has helped to increase the efficacy
       of clinical follow up of the patients. It's also favors terapeutic
       compliance to clinical trials. The mobile unit assures fast and
       effective attention to those patients whit symptoms and gives an
       important alternative of care to HIV infected subjects.
 DE    Adult  Aged  *Clinical Trials  Female  *Home Care Services  Human  HIV
       Infections/*THERAPY  Male  Middle Age  *Patient Compliance  MEETING
       ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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