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Che Pa MF, Makmor-Bakry M, Islahudin F. Digital Health in Enhancing Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. AIDS Patient Care STDS 2023; 37:507-516. [PMID: 37956244 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2023.0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential in determining successful treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The adoption of digital health is suggested to improve ART adherence among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study aimed to systematically determine the effect of digital health in enhancing ART adherence among PLHIV from published studies. The systematic search was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Ovid, EBSCOHost, and Google Scholar databases up to June 2022. Studies utilized any digital health as an intervention for ART adherence enhancement and ART adherence status as study's outcome was included. Digital health refers to the use of information and communication technologies to improve health. Quality assessment and data analysis were carried out using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.4. A random-effects model computed the pooled odds ratio between intervention and control groups. The search produced a total of 1864 articles. Eleven articles were eligible for analysis. Digital health was used as follows: six studies used short message service or text message alone, three studies used mobile applications, and two studies used combination method. Four studies showed statistically significant impacts of digital health on ART adherence, while seven studies reported insignificant results. Results showed studies conducted using combination approach of digital health produced more promising outcome in ART adherence compared to single approach. New innovative in combination ways is required to address potential benefits of digital health in promoting ART adherence among PLHIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Farizh Che Pa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, Seremban, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Makmor-Bakry
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Farida Islahudin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Schaab BL, Remor E. Development, feasibility testing and perceived benefits of a new app to help with adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV in Brazil. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2023; 9:130. [PMID: 37496084 PMCID: PMC10369752 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01370-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in many countries, people living with HIV still experience difficulties with treatment. We propose a new smartphone mobile application to assist in adherence to ART. This study aimed to describe this new mobile application's development (content construction and usability), feasibility testing (recruitment, retention rates [attendance], satisfaction) and primary perceived benefits. METHODS Two consecutive studies were conducted. First, people living with HIV, health care workers and experts in information technology provided feedback to improve the content and usability of the app. After changes in the app were implemented according to the feedback, a second study was performed to assess the feasibility and perceived benefits. Effects on self-reported adherence and perceived well-being were also assessed. RESULTS Scores of participants (N = 11) showed differences in adherence (effect size .43) and well-being (effect size .45) after using the app. However, the differences did not reach statistical significance. Observing scores individually, six out of 11 participants improved their overall adherence scores, and seven out of 11 participants improved their perceived well-being scores. Recruitment was 95%, and attendance at sessions was 62.5%. In general, the participants were satisfied with the intervention and viewed the app as an informative tool. CONCLUSION The results are promising and allow us to recommend further studies with the app.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Luis Schaab
- Institute of Psychology, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, RS. 90035003, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Remor
- Institute of Psychology, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, RS. 90035003, Brazil.
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Kruse CS, Pacheco GJ, Rosenthal N, Kopp CJ, Omorotionmwan O, Cruz JE. Leveraging mHealth for the Treatment and Management of PLHIV. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:677-697. [PMID: 37077534 PMCID: PMC10106311 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s403946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this systematic review was to analyze published literature from the last five years to assess facilitators and barriers to the adoption of mHealth as interventions to treat and manage HIV for PLHIV (people living with HIV). The primary outcomes were physical and mental conditions. The secondary outcomes were behavior based (substance use, care engagement, and healthy habits). Methods Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect) were queried on 9/2/2022 for peer-reviewed studies on the treatment and management of PLHIV with mHealth as the intervention. The review was conducted in accordance with the Kruse Protocol and reported in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Results Five mHealth interventions were identified across 32 studies that resulted in improvements in physical health, mental health, care engagement, and behavior change. mHealth interventions offer both convenience and privacy, meet a digital preference, increase health knowledge, decrease healthcare utilization, and increase quality of life. Barriers are cost of technology and incentives, training of staff, security concerns, digital literacy gap, distribution of technology, technical issues, usability, and visual cues are not available over the phone. Conclusion mHealth offers interventions to improve physical health, mental health, care engagement, and behavior for PLHIV. There are many advantages to this intervention and very few barriers to its adoption. The barriers are strong, however, and should be addressed through policy. Further research should focus on specific apps for younger versus older PLHIV, based on preferences and the digital literacy gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Scott Kruse
- Texas State University, School of Health Administration, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
- Correspondence: Clemens Scott Kruse, Email
| | - Gerardo J Pacheco
- Texas State University, School of Health Administration, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Noah Rosenthal
- Texas State University, School of Health Administration, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Caris J Kopp
- Texas State University, School of Health Administration, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Omosigho Omorotionmwan
- Texas State University, School of Health Administration, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - John E Cruz
- Texas State University, School of Health Administration, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
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Kim IC, Lee JH, Choi DJ, Park SJ, Lee JH, Park SM, Kim M, Kim HL, Lee S, Kim IJ, Choi S, Bang J, Ali B, Hussain M, Ali T, Lee S. Rationale design and efficacy of a smartphone application for improving self-awareness of adherence to edoxaban treatment: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (adhere app). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e048777. [PMID: 35477876 PMCID: PMC9047822 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION High adherence to oral anticoagulants is essential for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We developed a smartphone application (app) that pushes alarms for taking medication and measuring blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) at certain times of the day. In addition to drug alarms, the habit of measuring one's BP and HR may reinforce drug adherence by improving self-awareness of the disease. This pilot study aims to test the feasibility and efficacy of the smartphone app-based intervention for improving drug adherence in patients with AF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A total of 10 university hospitals in Korea will participate in this randomised control trial. Patients with AF, being treated with edoxaban for stroke prevention will be included in this study. Total of 500 patients will be included and the patients will be randomised to the conventional treatment group (250 patients) and the app conditional feedback group (250 patients). Patients in the app conditional feedback group will use the medication reminder app for medication and BP check alarms. The automatic BP machine will be linked to the smartphone via Bluetooth. The measured BP and HR will be updated automatically on the smartphone app. The primary endpoint is edoxaban adherence by pill count measurement at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Secondary endpoints are clinical composite endpoints including stroke, systemic embolic event, major bleeding requiring hospitalisation or transfusion, or death during the 6 months. As of 24t November 2021, 80 patients were enrolled. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study was approved by the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Institutional Review Board and will be conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study results will be published in a reputable journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER KCT0004754.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Cheol Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital,Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Lee
- Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Dong-Ju Choi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Ji Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ju-Hee Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sang Min Park
- Department of Cardiology, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Mina Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hack-Lyoung Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sunki Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Gyunggi-do, Korea
| | - In Jai Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Seonghoon Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaehun Bang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
| | - Bilal Ali
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
| | - Musarrat Hussain
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
| | - Taqdir Ali
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
| | - Sungyoung Lee
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
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Ma Y, Zhong X, Lin B, He W. Factors Influencing the Intention of MSM to Use the PrEP Intelligent Reminder System. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:4739-4748. [PMID: 34866946 PMCID: PMC8633711 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s337287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Low adherence to medication is an important reason why pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is not effective at reducing the rate of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). The intelligent reminder system (IRS) has been designed to improve user compliance, but the intention of MSM to use the IRS remains unclear. This study establishes a theoretical model to analyze the factors influencing their intention to use the IRS. PATIENTS AND METHODS Non-probability sampling was used to recruit MSM volunteers in Chongqing and Sichuan, China, and the data were collected from MSM who had used the IRS. A model based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was established for the data through a structural equation model, and the perceived privacy risk was considered to explore the subjects' behavior intention. RESULTS A total of 111 volunteers who had used the IRS filled out a questionnaire. Social influence had the greatest impact on behavior intention (β = 0.360, P < 0.001), followed by performance expectancy (β = 0.331, P < 0.001), and perceived privacy risk had a negative impact on behavior intention (β = -0.151, P = 0.040). In addition, social influence had an indirect effect on behavior intention (β = 0.182, P = 0.003) and performance expectancy played a mediating role in this indirect effect. CONCLUSION Developments in the IRS are required to improve its usefulness and adequately explain its role when recommending it to MSM. It is also important to improve the system's ability to protect user privacy. Clinical evidence for the effectiveness of the IRS is conducive to its widespread use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoni Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bing Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
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Shelby T, Zhou X, Barber D, Altice F. Acceptability of an mHealth App That Provides Harm Reduction Services Among People Who Inject Drugs: Survey Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e25428. [PMID: 34259640 PMCID: PMC8319773 DOI: 10.2196/25428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Harm reduction services reduce the negative consequences of drug injection and are often embedded within syringe service programs (SSPs). However, people who inject drugs (PWID) suboptimally engage with such services because of stigma, fear, transportation restrictions, and limited hours of operation. Mobile health (mHealth) apps may provide an opportunity to overcome these barriers and extend the reach of SSPs beyond that of the traditional brick-and-mortar models. Objective This study aims to assess the prevalence of smartphone ownership, the level of comfort in providing the personal information required to use mHealth apps, and interest in using an mHealth app to access harm reduction services among PWID to guide the development of an app. Methods We administered a survey to 115 PWID who were enrolled via respondent-driven sampling from July 2018 to July 2019. We examined the extent to which PWID had access to smartphones; were comfortable in providing personal information such as name, email, and address; and expressed interest in various app-based services. We measured participant characteristics (demographics, health status, and behaviors) and used binary logistic and Poisson regressions to identify independent correlates of mHealth-related variables. The primary regression outcomes included summary scores for access, comfort, and interest. The secondary outcomes included binary survey responses for individual comfort or interest components. Results Most participants were White (74/105, 70.5%), male (78/115, 67.8%), and middle-aged (mean=41.7 years), and 67.9% (74/109) owned a smartphone. Participants reported high levels of comfort in providing personal information to use an mHealth app, including name (96/109, 88.1%), phone number (92/109, 84.4%), email (85/109, 77.9%), physical address (85/109, 77.9%), and linkage to medical records (72/109, 66.1%). Participants also reported strong interest in app-based services, including medication or sterile syringe delivery (100/110, 90.9%), lab or appointment scheduling (90/110, 81.8%), medication reminders (77/110, 70%), educational material (65/110, 59.1%), and group communication forums (64/110, 58.2%). Most participants were comfortable with the idea of home delivery of syringes (93/109, 85.3%). Homeless participants had lower access to smartphones (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.46; P=.001), but no other participant characteristics were associated with primary outcomes. Among secondary outcomes, recent SSP use was positively associated with comfort with the home delivery of syringes (AOR 3.29, 95% CI 1.04-10.3 P=.04), and being older than 50 years was associated with an increased interest in educational materials (AOR 4.64, 95% CI 1.31-16.5; P=.02) and group communication forums (AOR 3.69, 95% CI 1.10-12.4; P=.04). Conclusions Our findings suggest that aside from those experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, PWID broadly have access to smartphones, are comfortable with sharing personal information, and express interest in a wide array of services within an app. Given the suboptimal access to and use of SSPs among PWID, an mHealth app has a high potential to address the harm reduction needs of this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Shelby
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Xin Zhou
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Douglas Barber
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Frederick Altice
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.,Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Centre of Excellence on Research on AIDS, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Davis R, Gardner J, Schnall R. A Review of Usability Evaluation Methods and Their Use for Testing eHealth HIV Interventions. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2020; 17:203-218. [PMID: 32390078 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-020-00493-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide a comprehensive review of usability testing of eHealth interventions for HIV. RECENT FINDINGS We identified 28 articles that assessed the usability of eHealth interventions for HIV, most of which were published within the past 3 years. The majority of the eHealth interventions for HIV was developed on a mobile platform and focused on HIV prevention as the intended health outcome. Usability evaluation methods included eye-tracking, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, contextual interviews, think-aloud protocols, cognitive walkthroughs, heuristic evaluations and expert reviews, focus groups, and scenarios. A wide variety of methods is available to evaluate the usability of eHealth interventions. Employing multiple methods may provide a more comprehensive assessment of the usability of eHealth interventions as compared with inclusion of only a single evaluation method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rindcy Davis
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jessica Gardner
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Rebecca Schnall
- School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Lee SB, Valerius J. mHealth Interventions to Promote Anti-Retroviral Adherence in HIV: Narrative Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e14739. [PMID: 32568720 PMCID: PMC7486676 DOI: 10.2196/14739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antiretrovirals (ARVs) are key in the management of HIV. Although no cure exists, ARVs help patients live healthy lives and prevent transmission to others. Adherence to complex regimens is paramount to outcomes and in avoiding the emergence of drug-resistant viruses. The goal of therapy is to reach an undetectable viral load. However, adherence is a common problem, stemming from issues such as mental health, chaotic home situations, and busy work schedules. Mobile health (mHealth) represents a new approach in improving medication adherence, and multiple studies have been performed in this area. Objective This study aims to review the current implementation of mHealth in the management of HIV among different groups of patients. Methods We used PubMed, Academic Search Elite, and 1 journal database with various search terms to review the current implementation of mHealth in HIV care. Results Titles and abstracts were screened, and 61 papers were identified and fully reviewed. The literature was divided into lower- and higher-income nations, as defined by the United Nations. A total of 20 studies with quantitative results were identified, with 10 being text- and SMS-based interventions (the majority of these being in lower-income countries) and 8 being smartphone-based apps (primarily in higher-income countries). The majority of these studies determined whether there was an effect on adherence or biochemical parameters (viral load and CD4 count). Various qualitative studies have also been conducted, and many have focused on determining the specific design of interventions that were successful (frequency of messaging, types of messages, etc) as well as priorities for patients with regard to mHealth interventions. Conclusions There seems to be a role of mHealth in the management of HIV in lower-income nations; however, the optimal design of an intervention needs to be delineated. In higher-income countries, where the 2 significant risk factors were injection drugs and men who have sex with men, the benefit was less clear, and more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B Lee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, Regina, SK, Canada.,Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Joanne Valerius
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Wali N, Renzaho A, Wang X, Atkins B, Bhattacharya D. Do interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy recognise diversity? A systematic review. AIDS Care 2020; 33:1379-1393. [PMID: 32847386 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1811198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) are often culturally and linguistically diverse populations; these differences are associated with differing barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Cultural competence measures the extent to which trial design recognises this diversity. This systematic review aimed to determine whether adherence trial participants represent the diversity of PLWH. Randomised Controlled Trials in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to improve ART adherence were eligible. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. For all included trials, we searched for their development, testing and evaluation studies. We compared trial participant characteristics with nationally reported PLWH data. We appraised trial cultural competence against ten criteria; scoring each criterion as 0, 1 or 2 indicating cultural blindness, pre-competence or competence respectively. For 80 included trials, a further 13 studies presenting development/testing/evaluation data for the included trials were identified. Only one of the 80 included studies reported trial participants representative of the country's population of PLWH. The median (IQ) cultural competence score was 2.5 (1.0, 4.0) out of 20. HIV adherence trial participants are not reflective of the population with HIV, which may be due to limited adoption of culturally competent research methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Wali
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andre Renzaho
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Xia Wang
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Bethany Atkins
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Peng Y, Wang H, Fang Q, Xie L, Shu L, Sun W, Liu Q. Effectiveness of Mobile Applications on Medication Adherence in Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2020; 26:550-561. [PMID: 32223596 PMCID: PMC10391210 DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2020.26.4.550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medication adherence is frequently suboptimal in adults with chronic diseases, resulting in negative consequences. Traditional interventions to improve adherence are complex and not widely effective. Mobile applications may be a scalable means to support medication adherence. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of mobile apps on medication adherence in adults with chronic diseases. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of any mobile application (app) intervention directed at patients with chronic disease to improve medication adherence in comparison with usual care. A random-effects model was used to pool the outcome data. Risk of bias and quality of study were assessed per Cochrane guidelines. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included in this systematic review involving 1,785 participants, 940 of whom were randomized to a mobile app intervention group and 845 to the usual care group. The meta-analysis showed that the use of mobile apps was associated with a significant improvement in patient adherence to medication (Cohen's d = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.27-0.52; P < 0.001), with a low quality of GRADE evidence. There was no evidence of publication bias (Egger's test; P = 0.81) or substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 29%). In the sensitivity analysis, our findings remained robust to change in inclusion criteria based on study quality (Cohen's d = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.33-0.54; P < 0.001). The included apps incorporated 9 features, sorted from high to low based on relative weights (RW): documentation (RW = 0.254), medication reminder (RW = 0.204), data sharing (RW = 0.148), feedback message (RW = 0.104), clinical decision support (RW = 0.097), education (RW = 0.081), customization (RW = 0.049), data statistics (RW = 0.041), and appointment reminder (RW = 0.041). In the subgroup analysis, the effect was not sensitive to study characteristics or app features (0.37 ≤ P ≤ 0.95). App acceptability was reported by participants in the intervention group in 8 studies: 144 of 156 participants (91.7%) were satisfied with all aspects of the apps. CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional care, mobile apps are effective interventions to help improve medication adherence in adults with chronic diseases. Although promising, these results should be interpreted with caution given the low level of evidence and short intervention duration. Future research will not only need to identify ideal app features and the costs to providers but also need to improve the apps to make them user friendly, secure, and effective based on patient-centered theory. DISCLOSURES Funding for this study was provided by Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau (No. cstc2017shmsA130115). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihang Peng
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Joint Surgery, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin Fang
- Department of Cardiovasology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liling Xie
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingzhi Shu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenjing Sun
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin Liu
- School of Public Health & Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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11
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Pang Y, Molton JS, Ooi WT, Paton NI, He HG. Preliminary Effects of a Mobile Interactive Supervised Therapy Intervention on People Living With HIV: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e15702. [PMID: 32217500 PMCID: PMC7148554 DOI: 10.2196/15702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As people living with HIV infection require lifelong treatment, nonadherence to medication will reduce their chance of maintaining viral suppression and increase the risk of developing drug resistance and HIV transmission. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile app, Mobile Interactive Supervised Therapy (MIST), for improving adherence to oral HIV medications among HIV-infected adults in Singapore. METHODS We conducted a two-group pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a process evaluation, in which 40 HIV-infected participants with once-daily medication regimes were recruited from a public tertiary hospital in Singapore and randomly assigned equally to either the intervention (receiving MIST and routine care) or control (receiving routine care only) groups. The intervention lasted for 2 months. The outcome of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence was measured by a 7-day recall self-report (SR), pill count (PC), an electronic medical device-Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS)-and a mobile app-MIST (for the intervention group only). In total, 20 participants from the intervention group were interviewed at the end of the intervention to assess the acceptability of MIST. Data were collected at baseline and at 1-month and 2-month postintervention. RESULTS All participants had excellent medication adherence at baseline (median 100, IQR 100-100). The use of MIST did not result in a significant improvement in ART adherence when measured by the SR, PC, and MEMS, as compared with the control group at 1-month (P values >.99, .86, and .74, respectively) and 2-month (P values=.80, .84, and .82, respectively) postintervention. ART adherence also did not improve in each group over the same period. MIST was perceived to be a beneficial tool based on the process evaluation results. CONCLUSIONS Although MIST did not enhance medication adherence to HIV treatments, mainly owing to the ceiling effect, it was perceived to be beneficial among the participants of this study. Our process evaluation provided useful data to further develop MIST for bigger and long-term mobile phone app-assisted intervention RCTs in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03794648; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03794648.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Pang
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - James Steven Molton
- University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Tsang Ooi
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas Iain Paton
- University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong-Gu He
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Escobar-Viera C, Zhou Z, Morano JP, Lucero R, Lieb S, McIntosh S, Clauson KA, Cook RL. The Florida Mobile Health Adherence Project for People Living With HIV (FL-mAPP): Longitudinal Assessment of Feasibility, Acceptability, and Clinical Outcomes. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e14557. [PMID: 31913127 PMCID: PMC6996722 DOI: 10.2196/14557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background For people living with HIV (PLWH), antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial to attain better health outcomes. Although research has leveraged consumer health information technologies to enhance ART adherence, no study has evaluated feasibility and clinical outcomes associated with the usage of a commercially available, regularly updated mobile health (mHealth) app for improving ART adherence among PLWH. Objective This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes of Care4Today, an existing, free, biprogrammatic mHealth app for improving ART adherence among PLWH. Methods The Florida mHealth Application Adherence Project (FL-mAPP) was a 90-day longitudinal pilot study conducted in 3 public HIV clinics in Florida, United States. After obtaining informed consent, 132 participants completed a survey and then were given the option to try an existing mHealth app to help with ART adherence. Of these, 33.3% (44/132) declined, 31.1% (41/132) agreed but never used the app, and 35.6% (47/132) used the app. All were asked to complete follow-up surveys at 30 days and 90 days after enrollment. Usage data were used to assess feasibility. Clinical outcomes of self-reported ART adherence and chart-obtained HIV viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts were compared among those who used the platform (users) versus those who did not (nonusers). Participants and HIV care providers also provided responses to open-ended questions about what they liked and did not like about the app; comments were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Of 132 participants, 47 (35.6%) and 85 (64.4%) were categorized as users and nonusers, respectively. Among users, a Kaplan-Meier plot showed that 25 persons (53%) continued using the app after the 90-day follow-up. At 30-day follow-up, 13 (81.3%) of those who used the mHealth app reported ≥95% ART adherence, compared with 17 (58.6%) nonusers (P=.12). Overall, 39 (82%) users liked or somewhat liked using the platform. Participants’ favorite features were medication reminders, ability to create custom reminders, and adherence reports. Conclusions This longitudinal study found that a commercially available medication adherence mHealth app was a feasible and acceptable intervention to improve ART adherence among PLWH and engaged in clinical care across 3 public HIV clinics in the state of Florida. Overall, participants liked the Care4Today app and thought the medication reminders were their favorite feature. Generally, self-reports of ART adherence were better among users than nonusers, both at 30- and 90-day follow-ups. Further clinical research needs to address user fatigue for improving app usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Escobar-Viera
- Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Zhi Zhou
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jamie P Morano
- Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Robert Lucero
- College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | | | | | - Kevin A Clauson
- College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Robert L Cook
- Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium Center for Translational HIV Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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13
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Maloney KM, Bratcher A, Wilkerson R, Sullivan PS. Electronic and other new media technology interventions for HIV care and prevention: a systematic review. J Int AIDS Soc 2020; 23:e25439. [PMID: 31909896 PMCID: PMC6945883 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electronic and other new media technologies (eHealth) can facilitate large-scale dissemination of information and effective delivery of interventions for HIV care and prevention. There is a need to both monitor a rapidly changing pipeline of technology-based care and prevention methods and to assess whether the interventions are appropriately diversified. We systematically review and critically appraise the research pipeline of eHealth interventions for HIV care and prevention, including published studies and other funded projects. METHODS Two peer-reviewed literature databases were searched for studies describing the development, trial testing or implementation of new technology interventions, published from September 2014 to September 2018. The National Institutes of Health database of grants was searched for interventions still in development. Interventions were included if eHealth was utilized and an outcome directly related to HIV treatment or prevention was targeted. We summarized each intervention including the stage of development, eHealth mode of delivery, target population and stage of the HIV care and prevention continua targeted. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Of 2178 articles in the published literature, 113 were included with 84 unique interventions described. The interventions utilize a variety of eHealth technologies and target various points on the prevention and care continua, with greater emphasis on education, behaviour change and testing than linkage to medical care. There were a variety of interventions for HIV care support but none for PrEP care. Most interventions were developed for populations in high income countries. An additional 62 interventions with funding were found in the development pipeline, with greater emphasis on managing HIV and PrEP care. CONCLUSIONS Our systematic review found a robust collection of eHealth interventions in the published literature as well as unpublished interventions still in development. In the published literature, there is an imbalance of interventions favouring education and behaviour change over linkage to care, retention in care, and adherence, especially for PrEP. The next generation of interventions already in the pipeline might address these neglected areas of care and prevention, but the development process is slow. Researchers need new methods for more efficient and expedited intervention development so that current and future needs are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Bratcher
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
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14
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Horvath KJ, Lammert S, MacLehose RF, Danh T, Baker JV, Carrico AW. A Pilot Study of a Mobile App to Support HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Use Stimulants. AIDS Behav 2019; 23:3184-3198. [PMID: 31309348 PMCID: PMC6803067 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02597-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
APP+ is a theoretically-grounded mobile app intervention to improve antiretroviral (ART) adherence among men who have sex with men (MSM) who use stimulants. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of APP+ in a six-month randomized controlled trial among a national sample of 90 MSM recruited online; secondarily, we examined changes in self-reported ART adherence by study arm. Retention at the final assessment was 82%, and acceptability ratings were comparable to other technology-based interventions. MSM in the APP+ group reported higher self-reported percentage ART adherence in the past 30 days at the four-month timepoint compared to a no-treatment control group (89.0% vs. 77.2%). However, once access to the app was removed after month four, group differences in ART adherence diminished by month six. APP+ may be a potentially promising intervention approach for MSM living with HIV who use stimulants but would require enhancements to optimize acceptability and demonstrate more sustained effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Horvath
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Sara Lammert
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Richard F MacLehose
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Thu Danh
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jason V Baker
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Adam W Carrico
- School of Medicine, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
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15
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Morano JP, Clauson K, Zhou Z, Escobar-Viera CG, Lieb S, Chen IK, Kirk D, Carter WM, Ruppal M, Cook RL. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Willingness Toward the Use of mHealth Tools for Medication Adherence in the Florida mHealth Adherence Project for People Living With HIV (FL-mAPP): Pilot Questionnaire Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e12900. [PMID: 31271150 PMCID: PMC6636233 DOI: 10.2196/12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antiretroviral (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH) continues to be a challenge despite advances in HIV prevention and treatment. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are increasingly deployed as tools for ART adherence. However, little is known about the uptake and attitudes toward commercially available, biprogrammatic mobile apps (ie, designed for both smartphone and short message service [SMS] messaging) among demographically diverse PLWH. Objectives The Florida mHealth Adherence Project for PLWH (FL-mAPP) is an innovative pilot study that aimed to determine the acceptability of a commercially available, biprogrammatic mHealth intervention platform to ensure medication adherence and gauge the current attitudes of PLWH toward current and future mHealth apps. Methods A predeveloped, commercially available, biprogrammatic mHealth platform (Care4Today Mobile Health Manager, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ) was deployed, with self-reported ART adherence recorded in the app and paper survey at both short term (30-day) or long-term (90-day) follow-ups. Consented participants completed baseline surveys on sociodemographics and attitudes, beliefs, and willingness toward the use of mHealth interventions for HIV care using a 5-point Likert scale. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified correlations with successful uptake of the mHealth platform. Results Among 132 PLWH, 66% (n=87) initially agreed to use the mHealth platform, of which 54% (n=47) successfully connected to the platform. Of the 87 agreeing to use the mHealth platform, we found an approximate 2:1 ratio of persons agreeing to try the smartphone app (n=59) versus the SMS text messages (n=28). Factors correlating with mHealth uptake were above high school level education (adjusted odds ratio 2.65; P=.05), confidence that a clinical staff member would assist with mHealth app use (adjusted odds ratio 2.92, P=.048), belief that PLWH would use such an mHealth app (adjusted odds ratio 2.89; P=.02), and ownership of a smartphone in contrast to a “flip-phone” model (adjusted odds ratio 2.80; P=.05). Of the sample, 70.2% (n=92) reported daily interest in receiving medication adherence reminders via an app (80.4% users versus 64.7% nonusers), although not significantly different among the user groups (P=.06). In addition, 34.8% (n=16) of mHealth users reported a theoretical “daily” interest and 68.2% (n=58) of non-mHealth users reported no interest in using an mHealth app for potentially tracking alcohol or drug intake (P=.002). Conclusions This commercially available, biprogrammatic mHealth platform showed feasibility and efficacy for enhanced ART and medication adherence within public health clinics and successfully included older age groups. Successful use of the platform among demographically diverse PLWH is important for HIV implementation science and promising for uptake on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie P Morano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States.,Clinical Research Unit, University of South Florida, Florida Department of Health - Hillsborough, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Kevin Clauson
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Zhi Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Southern Alcohol HIV Research Consortium Center for Translational HIV Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - César G Escobar-Viera
- Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health - Health Policy Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Spencer Lieb
- The AIDS Institute / Florida Consortium for HIV/AIDS Research, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Irene K Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States.,Clinical Research Unit, University of South Florida, Florida Department of Health - Hillsborough, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - David Kirk
- Clinical Research Unit, University of South Florida, Florida Department of Health - Hillsborough, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Willie M Carter
- Immunology Clinical Research Unit, Florida Department of Health - Orange County, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Michael Ruppal
- The AIDS Institute / Florida Consortium for HIV/AIDS Research, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Robert L Cook
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Southern Alcohol HIV Research Consortium Center for Translational HIV Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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16
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Bell KM, Haberer JE. Actionable Adherence Monitoring: Technological Methods to Monitor and Support Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2019; 15:388-396. [PMID: 30232578 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-018-0413-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Bell
- Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua St, Suite 722, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Jessica E Haberer
- Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua St, Suite 722, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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17
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Kumar AA, De Costa A, Das A, Srinivasa GA, D'Souza G, Rodrigues R. Mobile Health for Tuberculosis Management in South India: Is Video-Based Directly Observed Treatment an Acceptable Alternative? JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e11687. [PMID: 30942696 PMCID: PMC6468344 DOI: 10.2196/11687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With the availability of low-cost mobile devices and the ease of internet access, mobile health (mHealth) is digitally revolutionizing the health sector even in resource-constrained settings. It is however necessary to assess end-user perceptions before deploying potential interventions. Objective This study aimed to assess the mobile phone usage patterns and the acceptability of mobile phone support during care and treatment in patients with tuberculosis (TB) in South India. Methods This exploratory study was conducted at an urban private tertiary care teaching hospital and nearby public primary-level health care facilities in Bangalore, South India. We recruited 185 patients with TB through consecutive sampling. Subsequent to written informed consent, participants responded to an interviewer-administered pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, phone usage patterns, and the benefits of using of mobile phone technology to improve health outcomes and treatment adherence. Frequency, mean, median, and SD or interquartile range were used to describe the data. Bivariate associations were assessed between demographics, clinical details, phone usage, and mHealth communication preferences using the chi-square test and odds ratios. Associations with a P value ≤.20 were included in a logistic regression model. A P value of <.05 was considered significant. Results Of the 185 participants, 151 (81.6%) used a mobile phone, and half of them owned a smartphone. The primary use of the mobile phone was to communicate over voice calls (147/151, 97.4%). The short message service (SMS) text messaging feature was used by only 66/151 (43.7%) mobile phone users. A total of 87 of the 151 mobile phone users (57.6%) knew how to use the camera. Only 41/151 (27.2%) mobile phone users had used their mobile phones to communicate with their health care providers. Although receiving medication reminders via mobile phones was acceptable to all participants, 2 participants considered repeated reminders as an intrusion of their privacy. A majority of the participants (137/185, 74.1%) preferred health communications via voice calls. Of the total participants, 123/185 (66.5%) requested reminders to be sent only at specific times during the day, 22/185 (11.9%) suggested reminders should synchronize with their prescribed medication schedule, whereas 40/185 (21.6%) did not have any time preferences. English literacy was associated with a preference for SMS in comparison with voice calls. Most participants (142/185, 76.8%) preferred video-based directly observed treatment when compared with in-person directly observed treatment. Conclusions Although mobile phones for supporting health and treatment adherence were acceptable to patients with TB, mHealth interventions should consider language, mode of communication, and preferred timing for communication to improve uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil A Kumar
- St John's Research Institute, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Ayesha De Costa
- Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arundathi Das
- Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - G A Srinivasa
- Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - George D'Souza
- Department of Chest Medicine, St John's Medical College, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Rashmi Rodrigues
- Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Community Health, St John's Medical College, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India.,The Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, Hyderabad, India
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18
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Using technology to assess and intervene with illicit drug-using persons at risk for HIV. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2017; 12:458-466. [PMID: 28771449 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review describes recent literature on novel ways technology is used for assessment of illicit drug use and HIV risk behaviours, suggestions for optimizing intervention acceptability, and recently completed and ongoing technology-based interventions for drug-using persons at risk for HIV and others with high rates of drug use and HIV risk behaviour. RECENT FINDINGS Among studies (n = 5) comparing technology-based to traditional assessment methods, those using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) had high rates of reported drug use and high concordance with traditional assessment methods. The two recent studies assessing the acceptability of mHealth approaches overall demonstrate high interest in these approaches. Current or in-progress technology-based interventions (n = 8) are delivered using mobile apps (n = 5), text messaging (n = 2) and computers (n = 1). Most intervention studies are in progress or do not report intervention outcomes; the results from one efficacy trial showed significantly higher HIV testing rates among persons in need of drug treatment. SUMMARY Studies are needed to continually assess technology adoption and intervention preferences among drug-using populations to ensure that interventions are appropriately matched to users. Large-scale technology-based intervention trials to assess the efficacy of these approaches, as well as the impact of individual intervention components, on drug use and other high-risk behaviours are recommended.
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19
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Daher J, Vijh R, Linthwaite B, Dave S, Kim J, Dheda K, Peter T, Pai NP. Do digital innovations for HIV and sexually transmitted infections work? Results from a systematic review (1996-2017). BMJ Open 2017; 7:e017604. [PMID: 29101138 PMCID: PMC5695353 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Digital innovations with internet/mobile phones offer a potential cost-saving solution for overburdened health systems with high service delivery costs to improve efficiency of HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infections) control initiatives. However, their overall evidence has not yet been appraised. We evaluated the feasibility and impact of all digital innovations for all HIV/STIs. DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS All settings/all participants. INTERVENTION We classified digital innovations into (1) mobile health-based (mHealth: SMS (short message service)/phone calls), (2) internet-based mobile and/or electronic health (mHealth/eHealth: social media, avatar-guided computer programs, websites, mobile applications, streamed soap opera videos) and (3) combined innovations (included both SMS/phone calls and internet-based mHealth/eHealth). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Feasibility, acceptability, impact. METHODS We searched databases MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science, abstracted data, explored heterogeneity, performed a random effects subgroup analysis. RESULTS We reviewed 99 studies, 63 (64%) were from America/Europe, 36 (36%) from Africa/Asia; 79% (79/99) were clinical trials; 84% (83/99) evaluated impact. Of innovations, mHealth based: 70% (69/99); internet based: 21% (21/99); combined: 9% (9/99).All digital innovations were highly accepted (26/31; 84%), and feasible (20/31; 65%). Regarding impacted measures, mHealth-based innovations (SMS) significantly improved antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence (pooled OR=2.15(95%CI: 1.18 to 3.91)) and clinic attendance rates (pooled OR=1.76(95%CI: 1.28, 2.42)); internet-based innovations improved clinic attendance (6/6), ART adherence (4/4), self-care (1/1), while reducing risk (5/5); combined innovations increased clinic attendance, ART adherence, partner notifications and self-care. Confounding (68%) and selection bias (66%) were observed in observational studies and attrition bias in 31% of clinical trials. CONCLUSION Digital innovations were acceptable, feasible and generated impact. A trend towards the use of internet-based and combined (internet and mobile) innovations was noted. Large scale-up studies of high quality, with new integrated impact metrics, and cost-effectiveness are needed. Findings will appeal to all stakeholders in the HIV/STI global initiatives space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Daher
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Rohit Vijh
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Blake Linthwaite
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sailly Dave
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - John Kim
- National HIV/AIDS Labs, National Labs, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Department of Pulmonology, UCT Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Trevor Peter
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Boston, USA
| | - Nitika Pant Pai
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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20
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Westergaard RP, Genz A, Panico K, Surkan PJ, Keruly J, Hutton HE, Chang LW, Kirk GD. Acceptability of a mobile health intervention to enhance HIV care coordination for patients with substance use disorders. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2017; 12:11. [PMID: 28441962 PMCID: PMC5405459 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-017-0076-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Persons living with HIV and substance use disorders face barriers to sustained engagement in medical care, leading to suboptimal antiretroviral treatment outcomes. Innovative mobile technology tools such as customizable smartphone applications have the potential to enhance existing care coordination programs, but have not been rigorously studied. Methods We developed and implemented a two-component intervention consisting of peer health navigation supported by a smartphone application conducting ecologic momentary assessment (EMA) of barriers to care and medication adherence. Patients with a history of antiretroviral treatment failure and substance use were recruited to participate in the 9-month pilot intervention. Three peer health navigators were trained to provide social and logistical support while participants re-engaged in HIV care. We assessed the acceptability of the intervention components using qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with study participants and peer navigators. Results Of 19 patients enrolled in the study, 17 participated for at least 2 months and 15 completed the entire 9-month study protocol. The acceptability of the peer navigation intervention was rated favorably by all participants interviewed, who felt that peer support was instrumental in helping them re-engage in HIV care. Participants also responded favorably to the smartphone application, but described its usefulness mostly as providing reminders to take medications and attend appointments, rather than as a facilitator of patient navigation. Conclusions Peer health navigation and smartphone-based EMA are acceptable approaches to facilitating engagement in HIV care for drug using populations. Future studies to evaluate the efficacy of this approach for improving long-term retention in care and antiretroviral treatment outcomes are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01941108; registered on September 4, 2013
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P Westergaard
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. .,University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1685 Highland Ave, MFCB 5223, Madison, WI, 53705-2281, USA.
| | - Andrew Genz
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Panico
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pamela J Surkan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeanne Keruly
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heidi E Hutton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Larry W Chang
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gregory D Kirk
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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