mHealth + e-Navigator Stepped Care on ART Adherence in Latino MSM

Overview

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of stepped care strategies to improve ART adherence among adult Latino MSM with HIV using a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART). The trial will compare a stepped care strategy of delivering TXTXT ("Treatment Text") first and stepping up to remote patient navigation for non-responders vs. a stepped care strategy of delivering TXTXT + e-Navigation first and stepping up to EMA-supported e-Navigation for non-responders. Both TXTXT and the foundations of the e-Navigation interventions are CDC evidence-based interventions (EBI). We propose to use a SMART design which explicitly allows building, testing, and optimizing stepped care strategies without compromising rigor or randomization. We propose three specific aims:

Aim 1. Compare the immediate (6-month) and sustained (9- and 12-month) efficacy of two static (non-stepped) treatment regimens (TXTXT alone vs. TXTXT + e-Navigation) on ART adherence and viral suppression among Latino MSM with HIV. Hypothesis 1a. TXTXT + e-Navigation will be more efficacious than TXTXT alone. Aim 2. Compare the immediate (6-month) and sustained (9- and 12-month) efficacy of two stepped care strategies (TXTXT with added e-Navigation for non-responders vs. TXTXT + e-Navigation with added EMA support for non-responders) on ART adherence and viral suppression among Latino MSM with HIV. Hypothesis 2a: TXTXT + e-Navigation with added EMA support for non-responders at the 3-month follow-up will be more efficacious than TXTXT with added e-Navigation for non-responders at the 3-month follow-up. Aim 3. Identify baseline and time-varying moderators on the association between stepped care strategy and ART adherence and viral suppression among Latino MSM with HIV. Hypotheses 3a-c: TXTXT with added e-Navigation for non-responders will be less efficacious than TXTXT + e-Navigation with added EMA support for non-responders for individuals who are: (a) older at baseline, or report (b) substance use, or (c) symptoms of depression between baseline and the 3-month follow-up.

Eligibility

1. Latino or Hispanic
2. Self-report male gender assigned at birth and identify as gay, bisexual, or previous

   sex with a man

3. Age 18 or older
4. Diagnosed with HIV and prescribed ART least 1 month prior to study screening and

   enrollment

5. Suboptimal adherence defined as (1) laboratory evidence of at least one detectable

   viral load in the past 12 months (≥20 copies/mL), (2) electronic medical record of at least one <90% 30-day adherence period in the past 12 months, or (3) self-reported <90% past 30-day adherence.

6. Cell phone ownership and SMS use: Participants must own a personal cell phone for the

   intervention.