Feasibility and Acceptability of a Smartphone App for Daily Reports of Substance Use and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among HIV-Infected Adults.
While substance use is one of the most consistent predictors of poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), few studies among people living with HIV (PLH) have utilized mobile phone-based assessment of these health behaviors. PLH were recruited from primary care clinics to report ART and substance use using a smartphone application (app) for 14 consecutive days. The app's feasibility as a data collection tool was evaluated quantitatively via surveys and qualitatively via in-depth interviews to assess daily report completion, compliance, and study satisfaction. Overall, 26 participants (M = 49.5 years, 76% male) completed 95.3% of time-based daily reports. Participants reported high satisfaction with the app and expressed future interest in using smartphones to report daily behaviors. High completion rates and participant acceptability suggest that smartphones are a feasible, acceptable method for collecting substance use and ART data among PLH. Potential areas of concern such as sufficient training and assistance for those with limited smartphone experience should be considered for future app-based research studies among PLH.
School of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, State University of New York at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Sarahmona M
0000-0001-9283-7307
SM
Przybyla
Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
Rebecca K
0000-0001-6311-7597
RK
Eliseo-Arras
School of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, State University of New York at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Gabriela
0000-0002-8223-768X
G
Krawiec
School of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, State University of New York at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Emily
0000-0001-5024-2532
E
Gower
Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
Kurt
0000-0003-3055-578X
K
Dermen