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Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Published in: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Acceptability of a mobile health intervention to enhance HIV care coordination for patients with substance use disorders

Authors: Ryan P. Westergaard, Andrew Genz, Kristen Panico, Pamela J. Surkan, Jeanne Keruly, Heidi E. Hutton, Larry W. Chang, Gregory D. Kirk

Published in: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Persons living with HIV and substance use disorders face barriers to sustained engagement in medical care, leading to suboptimal antiretroviral treatment outcomes. Innovative mobile technology tools such as customizable smartphone applications have the potential to enhance existing care coordination programs, but have not been rigorously studied.

Methods

We developed and implemented a two-component intervention consisting of peer health navigation supported by a smartphone application conducting ecologic momentary assessment (EMA) of barriers to care and medication adherence. Patients with a history of antiretroviral treatment failure and substance use were recruited to participate in the 9-month pilot intervention. Three peer health navigators were trained to provide social and logistical support while participants re-engaged in HIV care. We assessed the acceptability of the intervention components using qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with study participants and peer navigators.

Results

Of 19 patients enrolled in the study, 17 participated for at least 2 months and 15 completed the entire 9-month study protocol. The acceptability of the peer navigation intervention was rated favorably by all participants interviewed, who felt that peer support was instrumental in helping them re-engage in HIV care. Participants also responded favorably to the smartphone application, but described its usefulness mostly as providing reminders to take medications and attend appointments, rather than as a facilitator of patient navigation.

Conclusions

Peer health navigation and smartphone-based EMA are acceptable approaches to facilitating engagement in HIV care for drug using populations. Future studies to evaluate the efficacy of this approach for improving long-term retention in care and antiretroviral treatment outcomes are warranted.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01941108; registered on September 4, 2013
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Metadata
Title
Acceptability of a mobile health intervention to enhance HIV care coordination for patients with substance use disorders
Authors
Ryan P. Westergaard
Andrew Genz
Kristen Panico
Pamela J. Surkan
Jeanne Keruly
Heidi E. Hutton
Larry W. Chang
Gregory D. Kirk
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1940-0640
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-017-0076-y

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