Anticipated psychological impact of receiving medical feedback about HIV treatment outcomes

Abstract

Two hundred and seven persons taking antiretroviral HIV medications rated anticipated affective responses to two vignettes depicting different medical feedback situations. Participants were randomly assigned to a medical feedback vignette which varied between participants by (a) the direction of HIV viral load change (increase, decrease, no change) and (b) whether or not a medication change was recommended by the physician. The first experimental vignette was always followed by a second vignette depicting a viral load decrease (indicating treatment success in suppressing the virus). A mixed 3 (viral load change) × 2 (medication change) × 2 (within-subjects factor) factorial design was used. Significant differences in anticipated affective responses to treatment outcome situations were found, suggesting feedback about success or failure of treatment regimens impacts psychosocial adjustment of persons living with HIV.