Table 3.
Trial characteristics of the included studies
| Study ID | Interventions | Number randomized | Trial duration (weeks) | Years of trial initiation | Adherence definition | Viral suppression | LMIC network (Yes/no) | Setting | Health status of study population | Recruited population details | Age category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTG A5073 [12] | SOC | 161 | 48 | 2002 | Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), 100% adherent | Virologic success based on the number of failures at 24 weeks | No | USA, South Africa | Healthy | ART-naïve | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 82 | ||||||||||
| ACTG a5234 [13] | SOC | 128 | 24 | 2009 | MEMS, ≥95% adherent | <400 copies/mL at week 48 | Yes | Botswana, Brazil, Haiti, Peru, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Unhealthy | Treatment failure | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 129 | ||||||||||
| Altice et al. [14] | SOC | 53 | 24 | 2001 | Self-reported, ≥80% adherent | HIV RNA reduction >1 1.0 log10 or HIV RNA level<400 copies/mL | No | USA | At risk | Drug users | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 88 | ||||||||||
| ATHENA [15] | SOC | 84 | 60 | 1999 | MEMSv, ≥90% adherent | – | No | USA | Healthy | Treatment experienced | Adult |
| Peer supporter | 87 | ||||||||||
| Berrien et al. [16] | SOC | 17 | 46 | 2000 | Self-reported and pharmacy refill records, continuous | VL<2.6 log | No | USA | Healthy | Treatment experienced | Adolescent and children |
| Treatment supporter | 20 | ||||||||||
| Goggin et al. [17] | SOC | 65 | 48 | 2004 | Electronic drug monitoring (EDM), continuous | <400 copies/mL | No | USA | Healthy | Includes some non-adherent patients | Adult |
| CBT+Treatment supporter | 69 | ||||||||||
| CBT | 70 | ||||||||||
| Kiweewa et al. [18] | eSOC | 44 | 52 | 2007 | Pill counts, >95% adherent | <400 copies/mL | Yes | Uganda | Special population | Women | Adults |
| Treatment supporter | 48 | ||||||||||
| Lucas et al. [19] | SOC | 52 | 72 | 2006 | Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), ≥95% adherent | <50 copies/mL | No | USA | At risk | Drug users | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 55 | ||||||||||
| Macalino et al. [20] | SOC | 43 | 48 | 2001 | Self-reported, adherent was not missing 1 dose in prior month | <50 copies/mL | No | USA | At risk | Drug users | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 44 | ||||||||||
| Mugusi et al. [21] | CBT+Device reminder | 242 | 72 | 2004 | Self-reported “Did not miss taking ARVs” | – | Yes | Tanzania | Healthy | ART-naïve | Adult |
| CBT+Peer supporter | 67 | ||||||||||
| eSOC | 312 | ||||||||||
| Nachega et al. [22] | SOC | 137 | 48 | 2005 | Pill counts | <400 copies/mL | Yes | South Africa | Healthy | ART-naïve | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 137 | ||||||||||
| Pearson et al. [23] | eSOC | 175 | 52 | 2004 | Self-reported, 7-day recall | – | Yes | Mozambique | Healthy | ART-naïve | Adult |
| Peer supporter | 125 | ||||||||||
| Rakai Health Sciences Program [24] | SOC | 366 | 192 | 2006 | Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) and pill counts, >95% adherent | <400 copies/mL | Yes | Uganda | Healthy | Treatment naïve and experienced | Adult |
| Peer supporter | 970 | ||||||||||
| Remien et al. [25] (SMART Couples Study) | SOC | 109 | 24 | 2000 | Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) | – | No | USA | Healthy | Treatment naïve and experienced | Adult |
| Peer supporter | 106 | ||||||||||
| Ruiz et al. [26] | Peer supporter | 120 | 24 | 2003 | Self-reported, SMAQ questionnaire, adherent if missed less than 2 doses in three months | <50 copies/mL | No | Spain | Healthy | Treatment experienced | Adults |
| CBT | 120 | ||||||||||
| Simoni et al. [27] | SOC | 64 | 12 | 2000 | Self-reported | – | No | USA | At risk | Poor | Adults |
| Peer supporter | 71 | ||||||||||
| Simoni et al. [28] | SOC | 57 | 24 | 2003 | Self-Report, 100% adherent | < 1000 copies/ml at all three follow-up assessments | No | USA | Healthy | Treatment naïve and experienced | Adults |
| Device reminder | 57 | ||||||||||
| Peer supporter+Device reminder | 56 | ||||||||||
| Peer supporter | 56 | ||||||||||
| START-DOT [29] | SOC | 38 | 24 | 2007 | Self-reported, 100% adherent | <75 copies/mL | No | USA | At risk | IDU | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 39 | ||||||||||
| Taiwo et al. [30] | SOC | 251 | 48 | 2006 | Self-reported, ≥95% adherent | <75 copies/mL | Yes | Nigeria | Healthy | ART-naïve | Adult |
| Treatment supporter | 248 | ||||||||||
| Wang et al. [31] | SOC | 58 | 32 | 2007 | Self-reported, 100% adherent | – | Yes | China | At risk | IDU | Adults |
| Treatment supporter+Telephone | 58 | ||||||||||
| Williams et al. [32] | SOC | 55 | 52 | 2010 | Self-reported | <400 copies/mL | Yes | China | At risk | Non-adherent, Depression symptoms | Adults |
| Peer supporter+Telephone | 55 | ||||||||||
| Wohl et al. [33] | SOC | 84 | 24 | 2001 | Self-reported, recall 7 days prior | <400 copies/mL | No | USA | Healthy | Treatment naïve and experienced | Adults |
| Treatment supporter | 82 |
All of the trials included evaluated patients in the adult age category. SOC, standard-of-care; eSOC, enhanced SOC; CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy; IDU, intravenous drug users.