The Effectiveness of a Mobile Interactive Supervised Therapy (MIST) Intervention for Improving Adherence to HIV Medication

The Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Mobile Interactive Supervised Therapy (MIST) Intervention for Improving Medication Adherence of Patients With HIV Infection: a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

A total of 40 HIV infected patients will be randomly assigned into intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group will use an smart phone application for two months. Participants will receive reminder notifications and use the app to take and send videos of themselves taking the pill(s), uploaded videos will be centrally reviewed by a study nurse . Control group participants will receive standard care. Antiretroviral Therapy adherence will be measured by self-report, pill count, and smart bottle as well as the App. Participants' perceptions of app using experience will be recorded via face to face interview.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 21
• HIV infection diagnosis confirmed by western blot
• Taking a once daily regimen of HIV medications
• Able to take pills orally
• Willing and able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to operate a smart phone
• Active Tuberculosis infection requiring treatment during study (due to additional challenge posed to adherence that may confound the assessment of HIV adherence)
• Substance use
• Visual or hearing impairment
• Cognitive impairment