SynthesisBMJ open2017
Do digital innovations for HIV and sexually transmitted infections work? Results from a systematic review (1996-2017).
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 83 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
83 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Mobile phone interventions to improve health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases: an umbrella review and evidence synthesis from 34 meta-analyses.The Lancet. Digital health · 2024Pooled it
- Effectiveness, Acceptability and Feasibility of Technology-Enabled Health Interventions for Adolescents Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Improving cascade outcomes for active TB: A global systematic review and meta-analysis of TB interventions.PLoS medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Public Health Implications of Adapting HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Programs for Virtual Service Delivery in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2022Pooled it
- Effectiveness of eHealth Interventions for HIV Prevention and Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-analyses.AIDS and behavior · 2022Pooled it
- Effectiveness of HIV Stigma Interventions for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) With and Without HIV in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.AIDS and behavior · 2022Pooled it
- Theories of change for e-health interventions targeting HIV/STIs and sexual risk, substance use and mental ill health amongst men who have sex with men: systematic review and synthesis.Systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Does Digital Literacy Empower Adolescent Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.Frontiers in public health · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Electronic Health Interventions to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in People Living With HIV: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2019Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Strengthening Delivery of Health Services Using Digital Devices.Global health, science and practice · 2018Pooled it
- A differentiated digital intervention to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence among men who have sex with men living with HIV in China: a randomized controlled trial.BMC medicine · 2022Trial
- Impact of SMS and peer navigation on retention in HIV care among adults in South Africa: results of a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2021Trial
- The MOSEXY trial: mobile phone intervention for sexual health in youth-a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a smartphone application on sexual health in youth in Stockholm, Sweden.Sexually transmitted infections · 2021Trial
- Positive Health Check evaluation: A type 1 hybrid design randomized trial to decrease HIV viral loads in patients seen in HIV primary care.Contemporary clinical trials · 2020Trial
- Effectiveness of a Web-Based Intervention to Support Medication Adherence Among People Living With HIV: Web-Based Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2020Trial
- Unintended Consequences of mHealth Interactive Voice Messages Promoting Contraceptive Use After Menstrual Regulation in Bangladesh: Intimate Partner Violence Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.Global health, science and practice · 2019Trial
- Detailed HIV Self-Testing Patterns Derived from Paradata in the mLab App Clinical Trial.AIDS and behavior · 2026Article
- Article
23 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveDigital innovations with internet/mobile phones offer a potential cost-saving solution for overburdened health systems with high service delivery costs to improve efficiency of HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infections) control initiatives. However, their overall evidence has not yet been appraised. We evaluated the feasibility and impact of all digital innovations for all HIV/STIs.
designSystematic review. SETTING/
participantsAll settings/all participants.
interventionWe classified digital innovations into (1) mobile health-based (mHealth: SMS (short message service)/phone calls), (2) internet-based mobile and/or electronic health (mHealth/eHealth: social media, avatar-guided computer programs, websites, mobile applications, streamed soap opera videos) and (3) combined innovations (included both SMS/phone calls and internet-based mHealth/eHealth). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility, acceptability, impact.
methodsWe searched databases MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science, abstracted data, explored heterogeneity, performed a random effects subgroup analysis.
resultsWe reviewed 99 studies, 63 (64%) were from America/Europe, 36 (36%) from Africa/Asia; 79% (79/99) were clinical trials; 84% (83/99) evaluated impact. Of innovations, mHealth based: 70% (69/99); internet based: 21% (21/99); combined: 9% (9/99).All digital innovations were highly accepted (26/31; 84%), and feasible (20/31; 65%). Regarding impacted measures, mHealth-based innovations (SMS) significantly improved antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence (pooled OR=2.15(95%CI: 1.18 to 3.91)) and clinic attendance rates (pooled OR=1.76(95%CI: 1.28, 2.42)); internet-based innovations improved clinic attendance (6/6), ART adherence (4/4), self-care (1/1), while reducing risk (5/5); combined innovations increased clinic attendance, ART adherence, partner notifications and self-care. Confounding (68%) and selection bias (66%) were observed in observational studies and attrition bias in 31% of clinical trials.
conclusionDigital innovations were acceptable, feasible and generated impact. A trend towards the use of internet-based and combined (internet and mobile) innovations was noted. Large scale-up studies of high quality, with new integrated impact metrics, and cost-effectiveness are needed. Findings will appeal to all stakeholders in the HIV/STI global initiatives space.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.