Table 1 Comparison of key features of primary care clinics and adherence clubs [15]
Category | Primary Care Clinic (PHC) | Community-based Adherence Club (AC) |
|---|---|---|
Setting | Clinic-based | Community-based |
Patient profile | All ART patients | Stable patients |
Key personnel | Doctors/nurses | Lay counselors |
Frequency of visits | 1–2 monthly | 2–4 monthly |
Frequency of clinical consultations | 1–2 monthly (every visit) | 12 -monthly |
Emphasis of patient contacts | Detecting clinical complications | Treatment adherence, patient wellness |
Units of care | Individual patient | Groups of 25–30 patients |
Peer-based support | No emphasis | Strong emphasis |
Patient self-management | Minimal emphasis | Strong emphasis |
Frequency of laboratory monitoring for stable patients | 12-monthly | 12-monthly |
Management of clinical complications | On-site | Up-referral to PHC |
ART packing and dispensing | Packed at the clinic pharmacy, dispensed from pharmacy | Pre-packed by central dispensing unit, dispensed at AC visit |
Treatment “buddy” | Patients must collect ART themselves | ART can be collected by a treatment “buddy” |