Pilot RCT and Interview Study on an HIV Chatbot in Nigeria

Christoph Pimmer

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: HIV

Treatments: Other: Chatbot as an informational coach

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06814041

IZSTZ0_202602

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will investigate the use of a HIV chatbot that acts as an informational coach.

The main question the study aims to answer is:

Does the chatbot improve HIV knowledge in adults (older than 18-years) newly diagnosed with HIV in Nigeria - compared to a control group?

Moreover, the study will also determine potential effects of the chatbot use on patients' resilience, psychological well-being. The study will explore patients' use and perceptions of the chatbot, as well as potential gender differences.

The control group will receive Standard of Care only. Patients in the chatbot intervention group will interact with the chatbot in addition to receiving Standard of Care. They will be able to:

• Use a chatbot via WhatsApp
• Receive information on relevant HIV topics
• Get automated responses to their HIV-related questions
• Be reminded of medical appointments and medication schedules

Enrollment: 314 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with HIV
• ART enrollment: at the day of recruitment or in the subsequent 7 days. But no longer than 30 months prior to enrolment in the study..
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Have a personal internet-enabled smartphone with WhatsApp installed
• Carry the phone with them at the time of recruitment
• Able to understand, read, and write in English (the official language in Nigeria)
• Able to understand the information about the study
• Provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Known pregnancy or ≤3 months postpartum
• Persons with suicidal ideation and/or severe mental distress

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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314 participants in 2 patient groups

Chatbot Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

In addition to the Standard of Care described, participants in the intervention group will be able to use a chatbot system. The chatbot was designed especially with the goal to support people newly diagnosed with HIV at the beginning of their antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Treatment:

Other: Chatbot as an informational coach

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Study participants in the control group will receive the Standard of Care only, offered by the clinics: 1. st visit in the clinic: Testing and ART enrolment: When patients in the clinic have a positive HIV test, various health assessments are carried out, including TB testing. The patient has a session with an adherence counsellor. A medical consultation takes place where a doctor addresses health issues and prescribes ART medication. First-time patients receive a 3-month prescription. 2. nd visit in the clinic in the first three months: Patients return to the clinic within the first 3 months. They are given the results of the tests carried out during their first visit, undergo health checks (vital signs) and receive health information. The patient is also seen by a doctor who prescribes ART for the next 3 months. 3. rd visit to the clinic at 6 months: The procedure is the same as for the 3-month visit, except that a viral load test is performed.