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Development and Usability of a Smartphone Application for Tracking Antiretroviral Medication Refill Data for Human Immunodeficiency Virus

2017; Thieme Medical Publishers (Germany); Volume: 56; Issue: 05 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3414/me17-01-0045

2511-705X

Dikai Zambo, Dumisani Moyo, Gobe Tanthuma, Jennifer Chapman, Vincent Lo Re, Amelia Graziani, Elizabeth Lowenthal, Nancy P. Hanrahan, Ryan Littman-Quinn, Carrie Kovarik, Dolores Albarracín, John Holmes, Robert Gross, Dagan Coppock,

Medication Adherence and Compliance

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.