title: A randomized trial to optimize HIV/TB care in South Africa: design of the Sizanani trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite increases in HIV testing, only a fraction of people newly diagnosed with HIV infection enter the care system and initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa. We report on the design and initial enrollment of a randomized trial of a health system navigator intervention to improve linkage to HIV care and TB treatment completion in Durban, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a multi-site randomized controlled trial design. Patients at 4 outpatient sites were enrolled prior to HIV testing. For all HIV-infected participants, routine TB screening with sputum for mycobacterial smear and culture were collected. HIV-infected participants were randomized to receive the health system navigator intervention or usual care. Participants in the navigator arm underwent a baseline interview using a strengths-based case management approach to assist in identifying barriers to entering care and devising solutions to best cope with perceived barriers. Over 4 months, participants in the navigator arm received scheduled phone and text messages. The primary outcome of the study is linkage and retention in care, assessed 9 months after enrollment. For ART-eligible participants without TB, the primary outcome is 3 months on ART as documented in the medical record; participants co-infected with TB are also eligible to meet the primary outcome of completion of 6 months of TB treatment, as documented by the TB clinic. Secondary outcomes include mortality, receipt of CD4 count and TB test results, and repeat CD4 counts for those not ART-eligible at baseline. We hypothesize that a health system navigator can help identify and positively affect modifiable patient factors, including self-efficacy and social support, that in turn can improve linkage to and retention in HIV and TB care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We are currently evaluating the clinical impact of a novel health system navigator intervention to promote entry to and retention in HIV and TB care for people newly diagnosed with HIV. The details of this study protocol will inform clinicians, investigators, and policy makers of strategies to best support HIV-infected patients in resource-limited settings.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov. unique identifier: NCT01188941.
authors: Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. ibassett@partners.org.
authors: Ingrid V
authors: IV
authors: Bassett
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Giddy
authors: Christine E
authors: CE
authors: Chaisson
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Ross
authors: Laura M
authors: LM
authors: Bogart
authors: Sharon M
authors: SM
authors: Coleman
authors: Tessa
authors: T
authors: Govender
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Robine
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Erlwanger
authors: Kenneth A
authors: KA
authors: Freedberg
authors: Jeffrey N
authors: JN
authors: Katz
authors: Rochelle P
authors: RP
authors: Walensky
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Losina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012107:Research Design; D013019:South Africa
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