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DOI: 10.3414/ME17-01-0045
Development and Usability of a Smartphone Application for Tracking Antiretroviral Medication Refill Data for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Funding Dr. Coppock receives research and training support through an NIH Award: T32-AI055435. Dr. Lowenthal receives research and career development support through an NIH Career Development Award: K23-MH095669. Dr. Gross receives support for global health research and mentorship through an NIH Award: D43-TW009781. This research was also supported by the Penn Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).
Publication History
received:
10 May 2017
accepted in revised form:
01 September 2017
Publication Date:
24 January 2018 (online)
Summary
Background: Adherence to antiretroviral medication leads to HIV suppression and decreased morbidity and mortality. In resource- limited settings, the dependence on paper medical charts and unstable electronic health records creates a challenge to monitoring medication adherence. A pharmacy-based strategy that utilizes existing cellular phone infrastructure may lead to a more stable system to monitor adherence.
Objectives: To develop and evaluate the usability of a smartphone-based software application (app) for tracking antiretroviral medication refill data in a resource-limited setting.
Methods: A pharmacy-based smartphone app for tracking HIV medication adherence was developed through a multi-step rapid prototyping process. The usability of the app was assessed during the daily activities of pharmacy dispensers at HIV clinics in and around Gaborone, Botswana using a validated computer usability survey.
Results: The study demonstrated the effective development of and favorable end-user responses to a pharmacy-based HIV medication adherence app. End users had suggestions for minor changes to improve the app’s functionality.
Conclusions: In resource-limited settings where electronic health record support is limited, such a system was feasible and appealing. In the future, this system may allow for improved HIV medication adherence tracking and be applied to medications beyond antiretrovirals.
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