Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40643830›Full record

Trial reportAIDS and behavior2025

Behaviourally-Informed Two-Way Text Messaging to Improve Return to HIV Care in South Africa: Evidence from a Randomised Controlled Trial.

Christine Njuguna, Preethi Mistri, Lawrence Long, Candice Chetty-Makkan, Brendan Maughan-Brown, Alison Buttenheim, Laura Schmucker, Sophie Pascoe, Harsha Thirumurthy, Cara O'Connor and 2 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in AIDS and behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Christine NjugunaAnova Health Institute, 12 Sherborne Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa. Christine_njuguna@yahoo.co.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-2824
Preethi MistriHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Wits Health Consortium, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lawrence LongHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Wits Health Consortium, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Candice Chetty-MakkanHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Wits Health Consortium, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Brendan Maughan-BrownSouthern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Alison ButtenheimDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Laura SchmuckerDepartment of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Sophie PascoeHealth Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Wits Health Consortium, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Harsha ThirumurthyDepartment of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Cara O'ConnorAnova Health Institute, 12 Sherborne Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa.
Barry MutasaAnova Health Institute, 12 Sherborne Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa.
Kate ReesAnova Health Institute, 12 Sherborne Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation INV008318Gates Foundation INV-008318
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

One-way text messaging to re-engage people in HIV care has shown promise, but little is known about two-way messaging. We evaluated a behaviourally-informed two-way text messaging intervention to increase re-engagement in care following missed visits. We conducted an individual-level randomised controlled trial between February and March 2023 in Capricorn District, South Africa. Adults aged ≥ 18 years who had missed an ART visit by > 28 days were randomised to (1) a standard one-way text message, or (2) behaviourally-informed two-way text messages. The primary outcome was return to care within 45 days, analysed as (1) intention to treat, and (2) restricted to successful message delivery. 3,695 participants were randomised: 1,845 to the one-way message group and 1,850 to the two-way message group. 27.9% (515/1845) of participants sent a one-way message and 27.2% (503/1850) sent a two-way message returned for an ART visit within 45 days (proportion difference: -0.7%, p-value: 0.622). In an analysis restricted to participants whose text message was delivered, 28.3% (310/1094) in the one-way message group compared to 28.3% (304/1076) in the two-way message group returned to care (proportion difference: -0.09%, p-value: 0.966). 19.5% (210/1076) responded to the two-way message. The two most reported reasons for missed appointments were being out of town (41.0%) and still having medication (31.0%.). Behaviourally-informed two-way text messages did not improve return to care over one-way messages. However, they elicited reasons for disengagement. Additional research is needed on the mode, content and timing of two-way messages intended to increase return to care.Clinical Trial Number: PACTR202202748760768 & DOH-27-042022-6703. 28 February 2022.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsReminder SystemsText MessagingAdultAnti-HIV AgentsFemaleHumansMaleMedication AdherenceMiddle AgedSouth AfricaAnti-HIV AgentsBehavioural EconomicsHIVRandomised TrialReturn To CareSouth AfricaTwo-way Text Messaging

Identifiers

PMID40643830
PMCPMC12500771

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Registered trials

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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.