Published in:
01-11-2016 | Original Paper
The Acceptability and Perceived Usefulness of a Weekly Clinical SMS Program to Promote HIV Antiretroviral Medication Adherence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors:
Nathan Georgette, Mark J. Siedner, Brian Zanoni, Thobekile Sibaya, Carter R. Petty, Stephen Carpenter, Jessica E. Haberer
Published in:
AIDS and Behavior
|
Issue 11/2016
Login to get access
Abstract
Short message service (SMS) text messages have been used to remind and encourage patients to take ART in research studies. However, few studies have assessed the feasibility and acceptability of SMS in routine clinical practice. We report patient perspectives on a weekly SMS adherence support program after implementation into clinical care at an HIV clinic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted structured interviews with a cross-sectional convenience sample of 100 adult patients who were invited to join the program, 88 of whom had received a program SMS. Of these respondents, 81 (92 %) would recommend the program to a friend. Sixty-eight (77 %) felt the program helped them remember clinic appointments, a response associated with male gender [odds ratio (OR) 5.88, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.52–23.26, P = 0.011] and HIV disclosure outside the home [OR 3.40, 95 %CI 1.00–11.60, P = 0.050]. This clinical SMS adherence program was found to have high patient-perceived usefulness.