Mobile app support for Spanish speakers living with HIV
WiseApp for Spanish-Speaking Latino Persons Living With HIV (PLWH) in the United States (US) and the Dominican Republic (DR)
This study is testing a mobile app and smart pill dispenser to see if they can help Spanish-speaking people with HIV in New York City and the Dominican Republic stick to their medication and improve their health.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 248 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Columbia University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05398185 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to adapt and evaluate the WiseApp mobile application and a smart pill dispenser for Spanish-speaking individuals living with HIV in New York City and La Romana, Dominican Republic. Over a 12-month period, participants will be randomly assigned to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the app in improving medication adherence and health outcomes. The study focuses on addressing barriers to technology use among Latino populations, who are disproportionately affected by HIV. By integrating the app with a smart pill box, the project seeks to enhance engagement with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and improve overall health management.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are Spanish-speaking adults aged 18 and older who are living with HIV and have an HIV-1 RNA level greater than 50 copies/mL.
Not a fit: Patients who are in nursing homes, prisons, or receiving inpatient psychiatric care, as well as those with terminal illnesses or cognitive impairments, may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve medication adherence and health outcomes for Spanish-speaking individuals living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using mobile health interventions to improve health outcomes among racial and ethnic minority populations, suggesting this approach may be effective.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Able to speak, read, and write in Spanish; * Aged ≥18 years; * Willing to participate in any assigned arm of the intervention; * Have an HIV-1 RNA level \>50 copies/mL; * Own a smartphone (DR participants who are eligible but without access to a smartphone will get one as part of the study at the time of enrollment); and * Ability and willingness to provide informed consent for study participation and consent for access to medical records. Exclusion Criteria: * Reside in a nursing home, prison, and/or receiving in-patient psychiatric care at time of enrollment; * Terminal illness with life expectancy \<6 months; * Planning to move out of the area in the next 12 months; * A cognitive state minimum score measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to ensure participants are oriented to time and place. * Spouses/partners may not enroll in this study. The study will be limited to only 1 person from the same family/domestic household.
Where this trial is running
New York, New York and 1 other locations
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
- Clinica de Familia La Romana — La Romana, Dominican Republic (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rebecca Schnall, PhD, MPH — Columbia University
- Study coordinator: Rebecca Schnall, PhD, MPH
- Email: rb897@columbia.edu
- Phone: 212-342-6886
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.