Reminder systems for people living with HIV

Key take-home messages

• Text messaging, smart phone applications and cell phone counselling are all effective in promoting adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
• Text messaging and smart phone reminders are more effective if they are personal in nature, and if they evoke or require a response from the participant.
• Text and telephone reminders have shown limited ability to improve clinic appointment attendance. One automated telephone reminder service did, however, improve attendance but only in patients who were stably housed, not depressed and attending five or more appointments within a six-month period.
• Text messaging and email reminders have proven effective in promoting STI retesting among high risk groups; however, these results have not been consistent.
• While text message and email notifications may not be sufficient on their own for the purposes of partner notification, they may be useful when used in conjunction with traditional notification systems

• Population(s)
  • General HIV+ population
• Engagement and Care Cascade
  • Treatment
• Testing
  • Testing
• Health Systems
  • Delivery arrangements