Abstract
BackgroundAntiretrovirals (ARVs) are key in the management of HIV. Although no cure exists, ARVs help patients live healthy lives and prevent transmission to others. Adherence to complex regimens is paramount to outcomes and in avoiding the emergence of drug-resistant viruses. The goal of therapy is to reach an undetectable viral load. However, adherence is a common problem, stemming from issues such as mental health, chaotic home situations, and busy work schedules. Mobile health (mHealth) represents a new approach in improving medication adherence, and multiple studies have been performed in this area.ObjectiveThis study aims to review the current implementation of mHealth in the management of HIV among different groups of patients.MethodsWe used PubMed, Academic Search Elite, and 1 journal database with various search terms to review the current implementation of mHealth in HIV care.ResultsTitles and abstracts were screened, and 61 papers were identified and fully reviewed. The literature was divided into lower- and higher-income nations, as defined by the United Nations. A total of 20 studies with quantitative results were identified, with 10 being text- and SMS-based interventions (the majority of these being in lower-income countries) and 8 being smartphone-based apps (primarily in higher-income countries). The majority of these studies determined whether there was an effect on adherence or biochemical parameters (viral load and CD4 count). Various qualitative studies have also been conducted, and many have focused on determining the specific design of interventions that were successful (frequency of messaging, types of messages, etc) as well as priorities for patients with regard to mHealth interventions.ConclusionsThere seems to be a role of mHealth in the management of HIV in lower-income nations; however, the optimal design of an intervention needs to be delineated. In higher-income countries, where the 2 significant risk factors were injection drugs and men who have sex with men, the benefit was less clear, and more research is needed.
Highlights
BackgroundHIV remains to be a significant public health concern, causing an estimated 770,000 deaths worldwide, with significant mortality from poorly managed disease, even in developed nations [1,2]
We believe that the major benefits that Mobile health (mHealth) could offer would be helping with medication and appointment adherence, improving HIV education, and increasing engagement in care
In accordance with the mHealth categories previously described by the United Nations, we categorized apps according to type and found that these apps were focused on either treatment support or education [41]
Summary
BackgroundHIV remains to be a significant public health concern, causing an estimated 770,000 deaths worldwide, with significant mortality from poorly managed disease, even in developed nations [1,2]. Objective: This study aims to review the current implementation of mHealth in the management of HIV among different groups of patients. A total of 20 studies with quantitative results were identified, with 10 being text- and SMS-based interventions (the majority of these being in lower-income countries) and 8 being smartphone-based apps (primarily in higher-income countries). The majority of these studies determined whether there was an effect on adherence or biochemical parameters (viral load and CD4 count). Conclusions: There seems to be a role of mHealth in the management of HIV in lower-income nations; the optimal design of an intervention needs to be delineated. In higher-income countries, where the 2 significant risk factors were injection drugs and men who have sex with men, the benefit was less clear, and more research is needed
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