Kalichman SC, Kalichman MO, Eaton LA. Phone-Delivered Intervention to Improve HIV Care for Young People Living With HIV: Trial to Inform Implementation and Utility.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023;
94:227-234. [PMID:
37643392 PMCID:
PMC10578518 DOI:
10.1097/qai.0000000000003279]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Phone-delivered counseling has demonstrated improved health outcomes for people living with HIV. However, counseling is hampered by a lack of guidance on the frequency and duration of intervention in relation to clinical benefits. The added benefits of bidirectional (ie, interactive) vs. unidirectional (ie, passive) text messages to augment counseling are also unknown. We conducted a clinical trial of adaptive phone counseling along with either bidirectional or unidirectional text messaging for people living with HIV.
METHODS
A community sample of 425 young people (aged 16-36 years) living with HIV in Georgia, USA, received weekly phone counseling sessions with the number of sessions determined by the participant and their counselor. Participants were subsequently randomized to either (1) weekly bidirectional text messages with their counselor or (2) weekly automated unidirectional text message reminders. Participants were followed for 16 months to assess 3 primary outcomes: antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, HIV care engagement, and HIV suppression.
RESULTS
Participants demonstrated improved clinical outcomes over the follow-up period, with 74% of those who were not taking ART initiating treatment, 65% of those on ART improving adherence, and 47% who had detectable viral loads at baseline attaining viral suppression. The number of sessions completed predicted improved ART adherence, greater care engagement, and HIV suppression over follow-ups. Bidirectional text messages impacted care engagement by moderating the effects of counseling sessions on HIV suppression.
CONCLUSIONS
Phone counseling augmented by bidirectional text messages has the potential to improve HIV care for young adults living with HIV.
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