Designing a mobile phone-based intervention to promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy in South India.
Integration of mobile phone technology into HIV care holds potential, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Clinic attendees in urban and rural South India were surveyed to ascertain usage of mobile phones and perceptions of their use as an adherence aid. Mobile phone ownership was high at 73%; 26% reported shared ownership. A high proportion (66%) reported using phones to call their healthcare provider. There was interest in weekly telephonic automated voice reminders to facilitate adherence. Loss of privacy was not considered a deterrent. The study presents important considerations in the design of a mobile phone-based adherence intervention in India.
Shet
Anita
A
Department of Pediatrics, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India. anitashet@gmail.com
Arumugam
Karthika
K
Rodrigues
Rashmi
R
Rajagopalan
Nirmala
N
Shubha
K
K
Raj
Tony
T
D'souza
George
G
De Costa
Ayesha
A
D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population