title: Using mobile phones to improve clinic attendance amongst an antiretroviral treatment cohort in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional and prospective study.
abstract: We aimed to assess the patterns and dynamics of mobile phone usage amongst an antiretroviral treatment (ART) cohort in rural Uganda and ascertain its feasibility for improving clinic attendance. A cross-sectional study of clients on ART exploring their access to mobile phones and patterns of use was employed. Clinic attendances for antiretroviral drug refills were then monitored prospectively over 28 weeks in 176 patients identified in the cross-sectional survey who had access to mobile phones and had given consent to be contacted. Patients were contacted via voice calls or text messages to remind them about their missed clinic appointments. Of the 276 patients surveyed, 177 (64%) had access to mobile phones with all but one were willing to be contacted for missed visits reminders. Of the 560 total scheduled clinic appointments, 62 (11%) were missed visits. In 79% of episodes in which visits were missed, patients presented for treatment within a mean duration of 2.2 days (SD = 1.2 days) after mobile phone recall. Access to mobile phones was high in this setting. Privacy and confidentiality issues were not considered deterrents. Mobile phones have a potential for use in resource-constrained settings to substantially improve the clinical management of HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Health Sciences, Leeds University, Leeds, UK. skk31@cantab.net
authors.forename: Setor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kunutsor
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katabira
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muchuro
authors.forename: Hudson
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Balidawa
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Namagala
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ikoona
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D040421:Cell Phone; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents