A Habit-formation and Gamification Intervention to Improve ART Adherence Among MSM HIV Patients in Mexico — FUERTES  

HIV Clinical Trial

Official title: Evaluation of a Habit-formation and Gamification Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among MSM Who Are New HIV Patients in Mexico

Status Active, not recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

In general, several studies show that adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is low. Yet, high adherence to ART is essential-not only to improve the quality of life and survival rates among MSM living with HIV, but also to reduce HIV transmission among their partners. Our project aims to address this unmet need through a community-based habit-formation intervention, which incorporates elements of gamification. This intervention will provide MSM living with HIV who have been recently diagnosed and linked to care several tools to develop the habit of taking their medication and overcome disruptive adherence events (DAE) that would otherwise lead to treatment abandonment or lower adherence.

Between 2015 and 2017, the investigators conducted a study funded by CONACYT -the Mexican Council for Research-in two Mexican cities to involve MSM living with HIV in the design of an intervention to improve ART adherence. Results from this study show that at the beginning of ART, MSM living with HIV can benefit greatly from a habit-formation community-based intervention that includes support mechanisms to tackle the multiple barriers they face.

Using these findings, the investigators created FUERTES, an intervention with two main components: 1) the provision of a simple tool that MSM can access to learn how to develop an habit of taking their ART drugs, and 2) the support of a trained peer with background in psychology to help teach them how to overcome the myriad of barriers they may face in achieving medication adherence.

This is a multicentre, parallel, randomized, controlled trial. The project's aim is to pilot-test the intervention and document its implementation. Specifically, the investigators will assess the effect of the intervention on ART adherence among MSM living with HIV at four and ten months. Secondary outcomes include viral load and CD4 cell counts. They will also assess the scalability of the intervention by measuring the costs of the intervention. The duration of the project is two years starting December 2017. The researchers hypothesize that the FUERTES intervention will improve ART adherence among MSM living with HIV starting ART by at least 15%, measured by the medication possession ratio.

Clinical Trial Description

FUERTES is an intervention with two main components: 1) the provision of a simple tool that MSM can access to learn how to develop an habit of taking their ART drugs, and 2) the support of a trained peer with background in psychology to help teach them how to overcome the myriad of barriers they may face in achieving medication adherence.

The first component includes providing each participant in the intervention arm with a habit-formation kit, which will include: 1) an information and habit-formation tool that can be accessed through a web platform, a mobile app and a booklet 2) a pocket pill-case; 3) a weekly pill organizer; 4) a water bottle containing a hidden pill case; 5) a fidget cube; and 6) a notebook and pen. Patients will also have access to a phone number to solve questions regarding HIV and ART with a medical doctor.

The second component includes providing social support to patients with high level of barriers that might influence the adherence to ART, through two mechanisms. Firstly, participants will receive professional psychologists will act as habit-formation coaches and will provide emotional support, sex education and referral to relevant health services. Secondly, they will receive one-on-one habit-formation support from MSM living with HIV who have been taking ART for several years, with the objective of reducing self-stigma and providing experience and reassurance that living a full and healthy life with HIV is possible. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• HIV

• NCT number: NCT03410680
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Mexico
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: December 5, 2017
• Completion date: December 1, 2024