Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Nurse-Led Mobile Phone Voice Call Reminder and On-Time Antiretroviral Pills Pick-Up in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of a nurse-led mobile phone voice call reminder intervention in improving on-time antiretroviral (ARV) pills collection in Nepal. Between October and December 2017, 468 HIV-positive individuals were recruited randomly and assigned to either nurse-led mobile phone voice call reminder (intervention) group or voice call with health promotion message (control) group, 234 were allocated to each group. We assessed on-time pills pick-up at baseline and six-month follow-up and analyzed it by intention-to-treat method. In the intervention group, participants improved their on-time ARV pills pick-up from 60% (141/234) at baseline to 71% (151/234) at the six-month follow-up. After adjusting for covariates, those in the intervention group were significantly more likely to pick-up their pills on-time than those in the control group (intervention × time; adjusted odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 1.15–3.55). Nurse-led mobile phone voice call reminder is efficacious to improve on-time ARV collection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cohen MS, Smith MK, Muessig KE, Hallett TB, Powers KA, Kashuba AD. Antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1 prevents transmission of HIV-1: where do we go from here? Lancet. 2013;382:1515–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Havlir D, Beyrer C. The beginning of the end of AIDS? N Engl J Med. 2012;367:685–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Medland NA, McMahon JH, Chow EP, Elliott JH, Hoy JF, Fairley CK. The HIV care cascade: a systematic review of data sources, methodology and comparability. J Int AIDS Soc. 2015;18:20634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Oyugi JH, Byakika-Tusiime J, Ragland K, et al. Treatment interruptions predict resistance in HIV-positive individuals purchasing fixed-dose combination antiretroviral therapy in Kampala, Uganda. AIDS. 2007;21:965–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Parienti JJ, Massari V, Descamps D, et al. Predictors of virologic failure and resistance in HIV-infected patients treated with nevirapine- or efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;38:1311–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kimeu M, Burmen B, Audi B, et al. The relationship between adherence to clinic appointments and year-one mortality for newly enrolled HIV infected patients at a regional referral hospital in Western Kenya, January 2011-December 2012. AIDS Care. 2016;28:409–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Jiamsakul A, Kerr SJ, Kiertiburanakul S, et al. Early suboptimal ART adherence was associated with missed clinical visits in HIV-infected patients in Asia. AIDS Care. 2018;30:1560–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Armstrong WS, Del Rio C. Editorial commentary: falling through the cracks and dying: missed clinic visits and mortality among HIV-infected patients in care. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59:1480–2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. WHO. Assessment of world health organization HIV drug resistance early warning indicators, 2011.http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/75186/1/9789241503945_eng.pdf. Accessed 15 June 2019.

  10. WHO. Global report on early warning indicators of HIV drug resistance, 2016. http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/drugresistance/ewi-hivdr-2016/en/. Accessed 10 May 2017.

  11. Bennett DE, Jordan MR, Bertagnolio S, et al. HIV drug resistance early warning indicators in cohorts of individuals starting antiretroviral therapy between 2004 and 2009: World Health Organization global report from 50 countries. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(suppl 4):S280–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Do TN, Nguyen TM, Do MH, et al. Combining cohort analysis and monitoring of HIV early-warning indicators of drug resistance to assess antiretroviral therapy services in Vietnam. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(suppl 4):S306–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fokam J, Billong SC, Bissek AC, et al. Declining trends in early warning indicators for HIV drug resistance in Cameroon from 2008–2010: lessons and challenges for low-resource settings. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ayer R, Kikuchi K, Ghimire M, et al. Clinic attendance for antiretroviral pills pick-up among HIV-positive people in Nepal: roles of perceived family support and associated factors. PLoS ONE. 2016;11:e0159382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bigna JJR, Noubiap JJN, Kouanfack C, Plottel CS, Koulla-Shiro S. Effect of mobile phone reminders on follow-up medical care of children exposed to or infected with HIV in Cameroon (MORE CARE): a multicentre, single-blind, factorial, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014;14:600–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. US Global Leadership Coalition. The technology that’s making a difference in the developing world, 2017. http://www.usglc.org/blog/the-technology-thats-making-a-difference-in-the-developing-world/. Accessed 10 Aug 2018.

  17. The World Bank. Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people), 2016. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS.P2. Accessed 12 July 2020.

  18. Jong SS, Cuca Y, Thompson LM. Meta-analysis of mobile phone reminders on HIV patients’ retention to care. J Mob Technol Med. 2017;6:5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Odeny TA, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Yuhas K, Camlin CS, McClelland RS. Texting improves testing: a randomized trial of two-way SMS to increase postpartum prevention of mother-to-child transmission retention and infant HIV testing. AIDS. 2014;28:2307–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kebaya L, Nduati R, Wamalwa D, Kariuki N, Bashir A. PO-0260a efficacy of mobile phone use on adherence to nevirapine prophylaxis and retention in care among the HIV-exposed infants in PMTCT: a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child. 2014;99(suppl 2):A329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Perron NJ, Dao MD, Kossovsky MP, et al. Reduction of missed appointments at an urban primary care clinic: a randomised controlled study. BMC Fam Pract. 2010;11:79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Norton BL, Person AK, Castillo C, Pastrana C, Subramanian M, Stout JE. Barriers to using text message appointment reminders in an HIV clinic. Telemed J Electron Health. 2014;20:86–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Amankwaa I, Boateng D, Quansah DY, Akuoko CP, Evans C. Effectiveness of short message services and voice call interventions for antiretroviral therapy adherence and other outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2018;13:e0204091.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Duggal M, Chakrapani V, Liberti L, et al. Acceptability of mobile phone-based nurse-delivered counseling intervention to improve HIV treatment adherence and self-care behaviors among HIV-positive women in India. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2018;32:349–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hasvold PE, Wootton R. Use of telephone and SMS reminders to improve attendance at hospital appointments: a systematic review. J Telemed Telecare. 2011;17:358–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Nepal Ministry of Health. National HIV testing and treatment guidelines, 2017. http://ncasc.gov.np/index1.php?option=Pliv2mZDegXcR2krhsvxdnJTvlfFaOf2QREHG23zlYQ&id=MSVCFjXe8Q7DGi4o2JiJxejTyWypVvgFZTJhKAsiSdo. Accessed 17 Aug 2018.

  27. Nepal Ministry of Health. National consolidated guidelines for treating and preventing HIV in Nepal, 2014. http://ncasc.gov.np/index1.php?option=Pliv2mZDegXcR2krhsvxdnJTvlfFaOf2QREHG23zlYQ&id=MSVCFjXe8Q7DGi4o2JiJxejTyWypVvgFZTJhKAsiSdo. Accessed 19 Aug 2018.

  28. Amiya RM, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Pandey BD, Jimba M. Perceived family support, depression, and suicidal ideation among people living with HIV/AIDS: a cross-sectional study in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e90959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Abdulrahman SA, Rampal L, Ibrahim F, Radhakrishnan AP, Kadir Shahar H, Othman N. Mobile phone reminders and peer counseling improve adherence and treatment outcomes of patients on ART in Malaysia: a randomized clinical trial. PLoS ONE. 2017;12:e0177698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Crutchfield TM, Kistler CE. Getting patients in the door: medical appointment reminder preferences. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2017;11:141–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rodrigues R, Poongulali S, Balaji K, Atkins S, Ashorn P, De Costa A. “The phone reminder is important, but will others get to know about my illness?” Patient perceptions of an mHealth antiretroviral treatment support intervention in the HIVIND trial in South India. BMJ Open. 2015;5:e007574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Kunutsor S, Walley J, Katabira E, et al (2010) Clinic attendance for medication refills and medication adherence amongst an antiretroviral treatment cohort in Uganda: a prospective study. AIDS Res Treat, 872396.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their sincere thanks to all the study participants for their valuable information, time, and participation. We thank the interviewers, volunteers, peer supporters, research assistants, and health care providers for their invaluable contribution in recruiting participants. We gratefully acknowledge participating hospitals and antiretroviral therapy clinics for their support throughout the study period.

Funding

This study was partly funded by Research Grant from Open Society Institute in New York, USA (IN2017-37269). We also thank Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program for their generous financial support in preparing this article. The funding agency had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Rakesh Ayer, Kimiyo Kikuchi, Akira Shibanuma & Masamine Jimba

  2. Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 327 Arnold House, 715 North Pleasant St, Amherst, MA, 01003-9304, USA

    Krishna C. Poudel

  3. Institute for Global Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

    Krishna C. Poudel

  4. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Kimiyo Kikuchi

  5. Awareness Development Center, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Mamata Ghimire

Authors
  1. Rakesh Ayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Krishna C. Poudel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kimiyo Kikuchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mamata Ghimire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Akira Shibanuma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Masamine Jimba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

RA conceived and designed the study; collected, analyzed, and interpreted the data; wrote the first draft; incorporated coauthors' suggestions; and prepared the final manuscript for submission. MJ, KCP contributed to design the study, and provided critical feedback on all the drafts, and approved the final version for submission. KCP, KK, MG, AS contributed to draft preparation. RA, KCP, KK, MG, AS, and MJ contributed to all drafts and approved the final version for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rakesh Ayer.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (XLS 270 KB)

Supplementary file2 (XLSX 13 KB)

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 4.

Table 4 Clinic attendance (primary outcome) and medication adherence (secondary outcome) at the six-month follow-up
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ayer, R., Poudel, K.C., Kikuchi, K. et al. Nurse-Led Mobile Phone Voice Call Reminder and On-Time Antiretroviral Pills Pick-Up in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AIDS Behav 25, 1923–1934 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03122-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03122-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation