Evaluation of a Computer-Based System Using Cell Phones for HIV People in Peru (Cell-POS)

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sexual Behavior; HIV; Adherence; HIV Infections

Treatments: Other: Cell phone intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01118767

R01TW007896 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators propose to develop and evaluate a computer-based intervention using cell phones to enhance adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and support of HIV transmission risk-reduction among adult HIV-positive patients in Peru.

Full description

Adherence to ART is critical for treatment success at the individual level and to avoid the onset of resistant strains of HIV. In Peru, where ART has recently been introduced, adherence to HIV treatment has not yet been addressed properly. Innovative approaches using information technologies such as cell phones are needed to increase adherence to ART for people with HIV/AIDS. The specific aims of the study are to: 1) Conduct formative research to assess culturally-specific behavioral messages to be included in the computer-based system; 2) Develop and test an interactive computer-based system using cell phones to enhance adherence to ART and to deliver HIV transmission risk reduction messages; 3) Evaluate the impact of the system on antiretroviral adherence and sexual risk behaviors.

Enrollment: 210 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• HIV-positive healthy male or female aged greater than or equal to 18
• Currently on ART
• Patients with a mobile phone for their personal use (not shared)
• Patients who know how to retrieve read text messages on their mobile phone
• Signed and dated written informed consent prior to admission to the study

Exclusion criteria

• Patients whose clinical condition might have interfered with the study (e.g., deafness, serious mental illness, mental retardation)
• Patients unable to give their informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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210 participants in 2 patient groups

Cell phone intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participant receives short text messages

Treatment:

Other: Cell phone intervention

Standard of care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participant receives standard of care support but not short text messages