Use of the telephone for accessing people living with HIV/AIDS to antiretroviral therapy: systematic review

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 24; no. 9; pp. 3407 - 3416
• Main Authors: Santos, Vanessa da Frota, Costa, Ana Karoline Bastos, Lima, Ivana Cristina Vieira de, Alexandre, Herta de Oliveira, Gir, Elucir, Galvão, Marli Teresinha Gimeniz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese; Spanish
• Published: Brazil Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva - ABRASCO 01-09-2019
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active - statistics & numerical data; Cell Phone; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Humans; Medication Adherence; Telephone; América Latina; Región del Caribe
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232018249.31112017

This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of telephone use for the adherence of people with HIV/AIDS to antiretroviral therapy. A systematic review was carried out in the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs/ Bireme), SCOPUS, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed), Web of Science; and in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Cochrane libraries, using the following descriptors: "HIV", "Cell Phones", "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome" and "Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active". We gathered a sample of 17 papers. The proposed cellphone interventions were the use of cellular applications, Short Message Service, and telephone calls. In most studies, telephone use has had a significant impact on adherence to treatment. The evaluation of the studies showed good methodological quality and adequate allocation secrecy. Self-reported adherence emerged among the adherence measuring methods. Cellphone use was effective in improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV.