Lifetime HIV antiretroviral therapy adherence intervention: timing is everything: comment on "Managed problem solving for antiretroviral therapy adherence"

Feasibility, Acceptability and Appropriateness of MedViewer: A Novel Hair-Based Antiretroviral Real-Time Clinical Monitoring Tool Providing Adherence Feedback to Patients and Their Providers

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is key to achieving viral load suppression and ending the HIV epidemic but monitoring and supporting adherence using current interventions is challenging. We assessed the feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness of MedViewer (MV), a novel intervention that provides real-time adherence feedback for patients and providers using infra-red matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) for mass spectrometry imaging of daily ART concentrations in patients' hair. We used mixed methods to feasibility test MV at a busy Infectious Diseases (ID) clinic, enrolling 16 providers and 36 patients. Providers underwent standardized training; patients and providers watched an 8-min informational video about MV. We collected patient and provider data at baseline and within 24 h of clinic visits and, with patients, approximately 1 month after clinic visits. MedViewer was feasible, liked by patients and providers, and perceived to help facilitate adherence conversations and motivate patients to improve adherence. Trial Registration: NCT04232540.

[Adherence reinforcement for antiretroviral therapy: PLHIV's perceptions and experience in Burkina Faso]

INTRODUCTION

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is a major obstacle to achieving WHO target 3. In West Africa, however, there is a lack of evidence on the most feasible, acceptable and effective adherence reinforcement measures and users' perceptions of these measures. The purpose of this article is to analyze the perceptions of PLHIV (people living with HIV) on ART reinforcement measures in Burkina Faso.

METHOD

In Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso care centers, THILAO Research Project (ANRS 12269) enrolled PLHIV experiencing therapeutic failure on 2nd line antiretroviral treatment, and offered to them adherence reinforcement measures. We conducted a qualitative socio-anthropological study to explore their perceptions. Data were collected through repeated individual interviews with 37 PLHIV.

RESULTS

The 31 participants who completed interviews were relatively satisfied with the measures to support adherence. Three measures (pill organizer, weekly phone calls by a member of the team, cellphone alarm reminders) were perceived as simple, effective, discreet, adapted to both illiterate and educated people. Three other measures (home visits, involvement of a member of the family and SMS) were not highly appreciated as they expose to the disclosure of HIV+ status and /or stigmatization. Two measures (support group, frequent visits to the care center) were less selected because considered tedious.

CONCLUSION

PLHIV chosed and used the most appropriate adherence measures for their profile / context. The most feasible and acceptable measures identified could be offered to PLHIV at risk of non-compliance in West African ART programs.

Actionable Adherence Monitoring: Technological Methods to Monitor and Support Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Current digital technologies are being used for "actionable adherence monitoring"; that is, technologies that can be used to identify episodes of non-adherence to ART in a timely manner such that tailored interventions based on adherence data can be provided when and where they are needed most.

RECENT FINDINGS

Current digital communication technologies used to monitor ART adherence include electronic adherence monitors (EAMs), digital ingestion monitors, cellular phones, and electronic pharmacy refill tracking systems. Currently available real-time adherence monitoring approaches based on cellular technology allow for the delivery of interventions precisely when and where they are needed. Such technology can potentially enable significant efficiency of care delivery and impact on adherence and associated clinical outcomes. Standard digital advances, such as automated reminders in EAM and electronic pharmacy records, may also achieve improvements with relatively lower cost and easier implementation. Future research is needed to improve the functionality of these approaches, with attention paid to system-level issues through implementation science, as well as acceptability and ethical considerations at the individual level.

What causes non-adherence among some individuals on long term antiretroviral therapy? Experiences of individuals with poor viral suppression in Uganda

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use by people living with HIV reduces HIV transmission, morbidity, mortality, and improves quality of life. Good ART adherence is required to achieve these benefits. We investigated how the environmental, social, economic and behavioural experiences of people living with HIV with poor viral suppression could explain their non-adherence to long term ART.

Methods

This qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Uganda between September 2015 and April 2016. Thirty individuals on ART for 5 years or more (10 on first line and 20 on second line), with poor viral suppression, were randomly selected from a cohort of people living with HIV on ART. In-depth interviews about ART; awareness, adherence counselling, obstacles to daily adherence and regimen switches were conducted. Emerging themes from the interviews transcripts and field notes were identified and thematic content analysis done. Participants’ consent, compensation, confidentiality and study ethical approvals were ensured.

Results

We found that poor adherence to long term ART was due to: travel for work or social activities, stigma, receiving little or no continuous ART adherence education, alcohol consumption and use of alternative ‘HIV cure’ medicines. Other reasons included; ART side effects, treatment fatigue, belief that long-term ART or God can ‘cure HIV’, and food security.

Conclusions

Achieving optimal ART benefits requires continuous provision of ART adherence education to individuals on long term ART. This helps them overcome the challenges related to living with HIV: worries of food insecurity, alcohol misuse, economic hardship, and beliefs in HIV cures and use of unproven alternative HIV treatments. People living with HIV who travel require adherence support and larger quantities of ART refills to cover their time away.

Predicting short-term interruptions of antiretroviral therapy from summary adherence data: Development and test of a probability model

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is vulnerable to unplanned treatment interruptions-consecutively missed doses over a series of days-which can result in virologic rebound. Yet clinicians lack a simple, valid method for estimating the risk of interruptions. If the likelihood of ART interruption could be derived from a convenient-to-gather summary measure of medication adherence, it might be a valuable tool for both clinical decision-making and research. We constructed an a priori probability model of ART interruption based on average adherence and tested its predictions using data collected on 185 HIV-infected, treatment-naïve individuals over the first 90 days of ART in a prospective cohort study in Mbarara, Uganda. The outcome of interest was the presence or absence of a treatment gap, defined as >72 hours without a dose. Using the pre-determined value of 0.50 probability as the cut point for predicting an interruption, the classification accuracy of the model was 73% (95% CI = 66%- 79%), the specificity was 87% (95% CI = 79%- 93%), and the sensitivity was 59% (95% CI = 48%- 69%). Overall model performance was satisfactory, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.85 (95% CI = 0.80-0.91) and Brier score of 0.20. The study serves as proof-of-concept that the probability model can accurately differentiate patients on the continuum of risk for short-term ART interruptions using a summary measure of adherence. The model may also aid in the design of targeted interventions.

Alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and preferences regarding an alcohol-focused adherence intervention in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

BACKGROUND

The primary objectives of this study were to determine the association between alcohol and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and the perceived appropriateness and acceptability of elements of an adherence counseling program with a focus on alcohol-related ART nonadherence among a sample of ART recipients in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics in Tshwane, South Africa.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study with purposive sampling. The sample comprised 304 male and female ART recipients at two President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief-supported HIV clinics. Using an interview schedule, we assessed patients' alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), other drug use, level of adherence to ART, and reasons for missing ART doses (AIDS Clinical Trials Group adherence instrument). Additionally, patients' views were solicited on: the likely effectiveness of potential facilitators; the preferred quantity, duration, format, and setting of the sessions; the usefulness of having family members/friends attend sessions along with the patient; and potential skill sets to be imparted.

RESULTS

About half of the male drinkers' and three quarters of the female drinkers' Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores were suggestive of hazardous or harmful drinking. Average self-reported ART adherence was 89.7%. There was a significant association between level of alcohol use and degree of ART adherence. Overall, participants perceived two clinic-based sessions, each of one hour's duration, in a group format, and facilitated by a peer or adherence counselor, as most appropriate and acceptable. Participants also had a favorable attitude towards family and friends accompanying them to the sessions. They also favored an alcohol-focused adherence counseling program that employs motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy-type approaches.

CONCLUSION

The association between alcohol use and ART nonadherence points to a need for alcohol-focused ART adherence interventions. Patients' perceptions suggest their amenability to clinic-based brief motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy-type adherence interventions delivered by lay persons in group settings. Further research should investigate how best to implement such interventions in the existing health system.