Short Message Service (SMS) Education In Improving Antiviral Treatment Adherence Of HIV/AIDS Patients

Objectives This study is aimed at exploring the feasibility and applicability of Short Message Service (SMS) Education. Assessing the effects of Short Message service (SMS) Education in improving antiviral treatment adherence medication knowledge and AIDS-related knowledge for patients with HIV/AIDS, in order to offer basis intervention model to AIDS related further research in our country.Methods It was a randomized controlled trial study. According to random number table,100HIV patients was divided into two groups (text message group and control group),50patients in each group. Patients in control group only accept routine compliance education in HIV/AIDS clinic, while the text message group received6months SMS education plus routine compliance education. It included a total of124text messages, in which there was five text messages each week in the first three month, and there was three text messages each week during the later three month. Use ART adherence questionnaire, and AIDS-related knowledge questionnaire were used to evaluate the patient’s ART adherence and AIDS-related knowledge before and after the intervention. Satisfaction questionnaire was used to evaluate the patient’s satisfaction about this intervention.Results During the intervention period,3patients were dead and2patients were lost to following up and1patient was excluded. Finally,94patients finished6months following up, with47patients in each group.(1) ANOVA for repeated measurement indicated that there was significant difference in the total score of medication knowledge between SMS group and control group after intervention (Fgroup=60.854P=0.000). The chi-square test showed that in the SMS group the awareness rate of medication knowledge is91.7%,which is significantly higher than70.4%of the control group after intervention (Χ2=89.916, P=0.000) (2) After intervention, AIDS-related knowledge score of SMS group is higher than the control group (Fgroup=45.807,P=0.000),and there was significant difference in the awareness rate of AIDS-related knowledge between SMS group and control group after intervention (Χ2=114.858, P=0.000)(3) Using Mann-Whitney U test to compare the two groups’ ART adherence.The results showed that the ART adherence of SMS group is higher than the control group after intervention, and there was significant difference in the two groups(Z=2.735,P=0.006).(4) During the6months intervention46patients responded the message, and the total response rate was97.87%, including15patients response rate is less than30%,24patients response rate between30%and50%, and8patients response rate is grater than50%.Conclusions (1) SMS Education can effectively improve AIDS-related knowledge in HIV/AIDS patients.(2) SMS Education can effectively improve the ART adherence of HIV/AIDS patients.(3) SMS Education is effective and feasible in our country.(4) SMS Education has little effect on the growth of CD4+T lymphocyte count within6months.