Table 1. Summary of studies.
| Authors | Study year | Country | Type of study | Reminder method | Target population | n (Control group) | n (Intervention group) | Inclusion/Exclusion criteria reported | Adherence measure reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdulrahman et al 50 | 2014 | Malaysia | RCT | SMS | Adult HIV positive patients who had completed four weeks of vitamin training and were newly initiating ART | 121 | 121 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Ammassari et al 26 | NR | Italy | PC | SMS | Patients reporting any degree of suboptimal adherence | 0 | 145 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| da Costa et al 29 | 2009–2010 | Brazil | RCT | SMS | Patients with viral load below 400 copies/mL for at least 3 months and patients with CD4+ cell counts greater than 200/mm 3 | 15 | 14 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Evans et al 28 | 2011–2014 | South Africa | RC/PC | SMS | Patients receiving a second-line ART regimen containing lopinavir/ritonavir or atazanavir/ritonavir and experienced a single elevated viral load (≥400 copies/mL) on second-line ART intervention | 401 | 49 and 314 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Garofalo et al 35 | 2010–2014 | USA | RCT | SMS | HIV+ patients on ART for ≥1 month with adherence problems | 54 | 52 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Georgette et al 48 | 2012–2014 | South Africa | RC | SMS | Patients with pre-program prescription coverage <100% and patients who initiated ART within 2 years of the start of the SMS program | 2,255 | 2,255 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Haberer et al 38 | 2013–2014 | Uganda | RCT | SMS | This study involved two types of participants: individuals taking ART (‘study participants’) and their ‘social supporters’ | 21 | 21 and 20 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Hardy et al 36 | 2008 | USA | RCT | SMS | HIV-infected men and women receiving HIV primary care on a stable regimen of antiretroviral therapy for at least 3 months and reporting less than 85% adherence to ART over the prior 7 days | Not reported | 23: 12 and 11 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Kalichman et al 42 | 2011–2015 | USA | RCT | SMS | Patients receiving ART and self-reported less than 95% adherence in the past month as per a validated visual analog adherence scale | 149 and 151 | 150 and 150 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Kassaye et al 40 | 2012–2013 | Kenya | Cluster RCT | SMS | Pregnant women were eligible to enroll in the study if they were less than 32 weeks of gestational age, were not currently receiving ART, were planning to remain in the area for the duration of the study period, and agreed to follow-up of their infants until 6 weeks following delivery. Male partners of women were also permitted to enroll in the study. | 270 | 280 | Yes/No | No: improve PMTCT |
| King et al 49 | 2013–2014 | Canada | RC/PC | SMS | Patients attending the clinic for at least 1 year prior to study entry, with an indication for cART (at time of study development, CD4 <500 cells/mm 3 ), detectable VL (≥200 copies/mL), with high risk for disengagement in treatment | 80 | 80 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Lester et al 8 | 2007–2008 | Kenya | RCT | SMS | Patients who were initiating ART for the first time | 265 | 273 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Lewis et al 37 | 2010 | USA | PC | SMS | HIV-positive men having sex with men | 0 | 52 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Linnemayr et al 45 | 2014–2015 | Uganda | RCT | SMS | Patients on ART or cotrimoxazole prophylaxis against common opportunistic infections, 15–22 years of age | 112 | 110 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Mbuagbaw et al 41 | 2010 | Cameroon | RCT | SMS | Patients who had been on ART for at least 1 month | 99 | 101 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Moore et al 44 | NR | USA | RCT | SMS | Documented HIV infection, diagnosis of bipolar disorder I or II via the composite international diagnostic interview, and currently taking at least one ARV and one PSY medication to treat HIV and BD, respectively. Medication non-adherence was not a study entry requirement | 28 | 30 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Nsagha et al 30 | 2011 | Cameroon | RCT | SMS | People living with HIV and AIDS and who had been on ARVs for at least 1 month | 45 | 45 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Orrell et al 39 | 2012–2014 | South Africa | RCT | SMS | Participants who were ART-naive adults and adolescents (≥15 years old) commencing treatment at the Hannan Crusaid Treatment Centre | 115 | 115 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Perera et al 27 | 2012–2013 | New Zealand | RCT | Mobile App | Individuals who had been on ART for at least 6 months | 11 | 17 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Rodrigues et al 33 | 2010–2011 | India | Quasi-experimental cohort study | SMS | HIV-infected adults who followed up at the clinic as outpatients and who were on ART for at least a month prior to enrollment | 0 | 150 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Ruan et al 47 | 2013–2014 | China | RCT | SMS | HIV-positive patients on ART for no more than 3 months | 50 | 50 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Sabin et al 34 | 2012–2013 | China | RCT | SMS | Patients who were receiving or initiating ART and were deemed at risk for poor adherence by clinicians or themselves | 21 and 35 | 23 and 40 | Yes/No | Yes |
| Stankievich et al 46 | 2014 | Argentina | PC | SMS | Patients who were receiving ART and who had suboptimal adherence (incomplete viral suppression determined by VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL) | 22 | 22 | Yes/Yes | Yes |
| Studies with SMS reminder and additional counseling | |||||||||
| Ingersoll et al 43 | 2012 | USA | RCT | SMS | Patients who had an active prescription for ART and reported less than 95% ART adherence in the past 2 weeks | 30 | 33 | Yes/no | Yes |
| Maduka and Tobin 32 | 2011 | Nigeria | RCT | SMS | HIV-positive patients who had been HAART experienced for at least 3 months and had a history of non-adherence (adherence below 95%) to HAART at the time of the study | 52 | 52 | Yes/yes | Yes |
| Pop-Elecheset al. 31 | 2007–2008 | Kenya | RCT | SMS | Patients who had initiated ART less than 3 months prior to enrollment | 139 | 70 and 72 and 73 and 74 | Yes/yes | Yes |
Abbreviations: AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; ART, antiretroviral therapy; ARV, antiretroviral; BD, bipolar disorder; cART, combination antiretroviral therapy; HAART, highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; NR, not reported; PC, prospective cohort; PMTCT, prevention of mother-to-child transmission; PSY, psychiatric; RC, retrospective cohort; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SMS, short messaging service; VL, viral load.