A clinical study to evaluate the use of cell phones to support drug adherence and follow-up of patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) for treatment of HIV. The intervention involves health-care providers sending regular short-message-service (SMS) text messages to patients and following up their responses. The hypothesis is that the cell phone intervention will improve ART adherence and health outcomes compared with the current standard of care.
This RCT study focuses on enrolling and following patients initiating ART. Note, a second parallel prospective cohort study enrolls and follows ART experienced patients who have already been taking ART for at least one year before and after the same intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
536
Participant receives weekly SMS text messages from the health care provider.
University of Nairobi Clinics
Nairobi, Kenya
Adherence to ART and HIV RNA suppression
Although many patients are seen every 3 months, study visits with questionnaires and viral load are completed at 0, 6, and 12 month scheduled follow-up visits.
Time frame: 6,12 months
Retention
Time frame: 6, 12 months
Quality of Life (SF-12)
Time frame: 3, 6, 9, 12 months
Health (CD4, weight, progression to AIDS, all cause mortality)
Time frame: 6, 12 months
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