Abstract
South Africa processes 5.1 million HIV CD4, viral load (VL), and tuberculosis (TB) tests annually. This pilot non-randomized trial in South Africa explored an intervention (“MatlaMobile”) to deliver laboratory results via mobile phone. Adults completing CD4, VL, and/or TB laboratory tests were enrolled—either receiving results by returning to clinic (control, n = 174) or mobile phone (intervention, n = 226). Study staff instructed control participants to return within 6 days (standard-of-care). MatlaMobile instructed intervention participants with clinically actionable results requiring intervention or treatment change (i.e., < 200 CD4 cells per milliliter, ≥ 400 viral copies per milliliter, or TB positive) to return immediately. A greater proportion of intervention participants than controls saw their results within 7 days of enrollment (73% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.001). Among participants instructed to return, more intervention participants (20%, n = 14/70) returned than controls (8.6%, n = 15/174, p = 0.02). MatlaMobile demonstrated that patients can quickly receive and respond appropriately to digital delivery of health information.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3511-3521 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | AIDS and behavior |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2020 |
Keywords
- Cell phone
- Continuity of patient care
- Patient compliance
- Telemedicine
- mHealth
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases