Patient and healthcare team recommended medication adherence strategies for hydroxychloroquine: results of a qualitative study informing intervention development

Patients identified as black and from disadvantaged backgrounds have a twofold higher hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) non-adherence, which contributes to worse lupus outcomes and disparities. Yet, most adherence interventions lack tailored strategies for racially and socioeconomically diverse patients who face unique challenges with HCQ. This study from HIP Investigator Dr. Christie Bartels aimed to examine a broadly representative group of patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and physician perspectives on HCQ adherence and adherence strategies to redesign an adherence intervention.

They conducted four virtual focus groups with 11 racially and socioeconomically diverse patients with SLE recruited from two health systems, along with hosting two focus group meetings with nine healthcare advisors. Based on these focus groups, they developed a patient stakeholder-informed and healthcare stakeholder-informed tailored intervention that will target non-adherence at the individual patient level

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