Table 2 Comparison of SOC ACs and Intervention ACs
Standard of Care ACs | Intervention six-month ACs | |
|---|---|---|
Frequency of AC visits | 2-monthly (5 per year) | 6-monthly (2 per year) |
ART dispensing interval | 2-monthly (5 per year) | 6-monthly (2 per year) |
Frequency of clinical assessments | 12-monthly | 12-monthly |
Frequency of routine bloods | 12-monthly | 12-monthly |
Timing of routine bloods | As part of AC visit | As an additional individual visit, 2–4 weeks before clinical assessment AC visit |
Units of care | Groups of 25–30 | Groups of 25–30 |
Peer-based support | Strong emphasis | Strong emphasis |
Patient self-management | Strong emphasis | Strong emphasis |
Management of clinical complications | Up-referral to clinician-led ART care based at the clinic | Up-referral to clinician-led ART care based at the clinic |
ART packing and dispensing | Pre-packed by central dispensing unit, supplied to clinic pharmacy and dispensed at AC visit | Pre-packed at clinic pharmacy with support from study team staff and dispensed at AC visit |
Treatment “buddies”* | Allowed to collect at every alternate AC visit | Not permitted |
Standard number of contacts per year | 5 (all within the AC) | 3 (2 within the AC and 1 individual for routine bloods) |
Minimum number of contacts per year | 3 (could send a “treatment buddy” to collect ART twice) | 3 (within the AC and 1 for routine bloods) |