A Mobile Medication Support App and Its Impact on People Living With HIV: 12-Week User Experience and Medication Compliance Pilot Study

Abstract

Background The continuity of care between hospital visits conducted through mobile apps creates new opportunities for people living with HIV in situations where face-to-face interventions are difficult. Objective This study investigated the user experience of a mobile medication support app and its impact on improving antiretroviral therapy compliance and facilitating teleconsultations between people living with HIV and medical staff. Methods Two clinics in Japan were invited to participate in a 12-week trial of the medication support app between July 27, 2018, and March 31, 2021. Medication compliance was assessed based on responses to scheduled medication reminders; users, including people living with HIV and medical staff, were asked to complete an in-app satisfaction survey to rate their level of satisfaction with the app and its specific features on a 5-point Likert scale. Results A total of 10 people living with HIV and 11 medical staff were included in this study. During the trial, the medication compliance rate was 90%, and the mean response rates to symptom and medication alerts were 73% and 76%, respectively. Overall, people living with HIV and medical staff were satisfied with the medication support app (agreement rate: mean 81% and 65%, respectively). Over 80% of medical staff and people living with HIV were satisfied with the ability to record medications taken (9/11 and 8/10 medical staff and people living with HIV, respectively), record symptoms of concern (10/11 and 8/10),and inquire about drug combinations (8/10, 10/10). And further, 90% of people living with HIV were satisfied with the function for communication with medical staff (9/10). Conclusions Our preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of the medication support app in improving medication compliance and enhancing communication between people living with HIV and medical staff.