Project: Effect of reminder cues and tailored feedback on adherence to antiretroviral drug treatment among HIV positive individuals in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania

Acronym	REMIND (Reference Number: TMA 2015 CDF - 972)
Duration	01/06/2017 - 31/05/2020
Project Topic	HIV positive individuals have to take lifelong treatment which is often challenging. With this study we aim to introduce an innovative, accessible and affordable means of improving adherence to antiretroviral treatment, that exploits the large use of mobile phones in Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa and involves patients in their own care. The objective is to investigate the effect of short message service (SMS) and real time medication monitoring (RTMM), which both generate reminder cues and adherence performance reports for tailored feedback on adherence to treatment among HIV positive individuals in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. We will achieve these aims and objectives by conducting a randomized controlled three-armed clinical trial in which one arm will receive reminder SMS messages and another arm will use an RTMM device that generates SMS messages in case of no medication intake. Both systems will be used to generate reminder cues and adherence performance reports. These reports will be the basis for tailored feedback on adherence to treatment. The third arm is the control arm that will be exposed to standard care only. We will compare adherence to treatment and virological outcome in all three arms to investigate the effect of SMS and RTMM. EDCTP-2's aim is to assist in the decline of the social and economic burden of poverty-related diseases (PRDs) in resource limited settings through speeding up development of clinical interventions. As our proposal deals with a clinical trial to improve management of HIV leading to less social burden, it clearly fits in to the aim. The scope of the career development fellowship is to promote career development and retention of postdoctoral researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the applicant is a postdoctoral researcher in the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI), which is an institute with wide experience on clinical trials, the fellow will be able to develop her career within Sub-Sahara Africa. In addition, a PhD student will be trained, leading to new opportunities for post doc positions. Moreover, the research capacity of KCRI will be expanded on human resources and equipment. The impact of this project has two sides. On the one hand, it will enable a mid-career and junior researcher to enhance skills in conducting and managing research leading to an increase of senior researchers in Sub Saharan Africa. On the other hand, the interventions may improve adherence leading to lower social and economic burden HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, Sub Saharan Africa.
Network	EDCTP2
Call	Training and Mobility Awards: Career Development Fellowships

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	The Good Samaritan Foundation, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre	Coordinator	Tanzania