The proportion of South Africans aware of their HIV status and on treatment remains lower than optimal. The goal of this study is to rapidly determine whether text messages framed according to behavioural economics principles increase clinic attendance among recipients of care on antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. We hypothesize that messages incorporating behavioural economics principles will increase the likelihood of recipients of care attending clinic appointments and returning within 28 days of a missed appointment.
The objective of this study is to rapidly determine whether text messages framed according to behavioural economics principles increase the likelihood that recipients of care attend their clinic appointment and return to clinic within 28 days of a missed appointment. The study will be nested in a routine HIV program, in approximately 5 selected Aurum Institute clinics based in Ekurhuleni district, Gauteng province, South Africa. Intervention arms will include voice call attempts and one-way text messages sent by clinic staff to recipients of care in two scenarios: 1) Approximately 3-7 days in advance of a clinic appointment for collecting antiretroviral medication supplies or collection of a specimen for viral load testing and 2) Approximately 24 hours after a missed clinic appointment. This individually randomised trial will have four arms. Each time there is an upcoming or missed clinic visit clinic staff will randomly assign recipients of care to one of the following study arms: 1) Standard of Care 2) Loss aversion framed messaging 3) Social norms framed messaging or 4) Altruism framed messaging.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,541
SOC one-way text message reminding recipient of care to either 1) attend a scheduled clinic appointment or 2) visit the clinic after a missed appointment.
Loss aversion framed one-way text message reminding recipient of care to either 1) attend a scheduled clinic appointment or 2) visit the clinic after a missed appointment.
Aurum Institute
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Appointment reminders
Proportion of clients with schedule clinic visit attendance, defined as the number of patients with a verified clinic on the scheduled appointment day/the total number of clients that were sent appointment reminders (stratified by study arm).
Time frame: Approximately 3-5 months
Missed clinic appointments
Proportion of patients with a verified clinic visit within 28 days of missing a scheduled clinic appointment defined as the number of patients with a verified clinic within 28 days of missing a scheduled clinic appointment/the total number of clients that Tracers sent text messages following a missed clinic appointment.
Time frame: Approximately 3-5 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Social norms framed one-way text message reminding recipient of care to either 1) attend a scheduled clinic appointment or 2) visit the clinic after a missed appointment.
Altruism framed one-way text message reminding recipient of care to either 1) attend a scheduled clinic appointment or 2) visit the clinic after a missed appointment.