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Table 3 Summary of interventions

From: Self-management interventions for adolescents living with HIV: a systematic review

ID

Intervention name

Intervention type

Description of intervention

When and how much

Delivery method

Delivery agent

Completed studies

 Belzer et al. (2014); Sayegh et al. (2018) [40, 41]

Cell Phone Support

Individual

Standardised script: closed and open-ended questions regarding medication review, barriers to taking medication, problem-solving support, referrals and scheduling.

Telephone calls (3-5 min) once or twice a day for 24 weeks

Telephone/SMSa

Trained adherence counsellor/HCWb

 Bhana et al. (2014) [42]

Vuka Family Programme (based on CHAMP)

Group

Culturally tailored cartoon storyline used to convey information, accommodate unique needs, family processes (communication, supervision, monitoring & support), mental health, risk behaviour & adherence.

Six sessions over a 3-month period (2 Saturdays a month)

Face-to-face

HCW (lay counsellor supervised by psychiatrist)

 Dow et al. (2018, 2020) [43, 44]

Mental Health Intervention

Sauti ya Vijana

(SYV; The Voice of Youth)

Individual/Group

It incorporates principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing. Includes relaxation, coping with stress, relationships, values, goals etc.

Ten group sessions and 2 individual sessions, 2 jointly with caregivers, each lasting 90 min (3 times a month for a period of 4 months)

Face-to-face

Peers (young adult group leaders)

 Donenberg et al. (2019); Fabri et al. (2015) [45, 46]

Peer-led Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Group

Indigenous leader outreach model: a) psychosocial health education b) relaxation training c) cognitive restructuring d) adherence barriers e) caregiver psychological education.

Six 2-h sessions over 2 months (Sundays); booster session after 12-month assessment

Face-to-face

Peers (indigenous youth leaders)

 Holden et al. (2019) [47]

Stepping Stones

Group

A holistic and transformative approach includes 3 types of change: psychological (changes in understandings of the self), convictional (revision of belief systems), and behavioural (changes in actions). Gendered and child’s rights focused framework.

A session every morning and every afternoon each weekday. Each community participated in a block of sessions covering Part 1 (sessions 1–15), then, in the next school holidays, a second block for Part 2 (sessions 16–29) (8 months).

Face-to-face

Volunteer facilitators (counsellors)

 Hosek et al. (2018) [48]

ACCEPT

Individual/Group

Disability-stress-coping model and incorporates information and skills-building activities guided by both social cognitive theory and the information-motivation-behavioural skills model. Focused on youth newly diagnosed with HIV.

Three individual sessions, 6 group sessions of 2 h, occurring weekly (10 weeks)

Face-to-face

HCW & Peer

 Jeffries et al. (2016) [49]

UCare4Life

Individual

Culturally-appropriate text messages in domains such as treatment and appointment adherence, HIV basics, clinical visits, and risk reduction

Mean of 12 texts per week for 3 months

ICTc/SMS

ICT

 Letourneau et al. (2013) [50]

Multisystemic therapy (MST)

Individual/Family

Therapists drew upon a menu of evidence-based intervention techniques that included cognitive-behavioural therapy, parent training, behavioural family systems therapy and communication skills training.

Families were seen for a mean of 2.2 visits per week across a mean of 6 months

Face-to-face/ICT

Trained counsellor/therapist

 Mimiaga et al. (2019) [51]

Positive STEPS (based on ‘Life Steps’)

Individual

Behavioural technology-based intervention: Step 1: 2-way personalised text messages; Step 2: adolescent-specific adherence counselling & video vignettes.

Five 1-h sessions delivered over 8 weeks

Face-to-face

Trained counsellor (master’s level)

 Naar-King et al. (2006) [52]

Healthy Choices

Individual

Motivational enhancement for 2 targeted risk behaviours, combining MI with CBT.

Four sessions (60 min) over 10 weeks

Face-to-face

Trained counsellor

 Naar-King et al. (2009) [53]

Healthy Choices

Individual

Motivational interviewing for 2 targeted risk behaviours, enhancing intrinsic motivation for change.

Four sessions (60 min) over 10 weeks

Face-to-face

Trained counsellor

 Rongkavilit et al. (2014) [54]

Healthy Choices

Individual

Motivational interviewing for 3 targeted risk behaviours (sexual risk and either alcohol use or medication adherence). Exploring barriers, change plans.

Four sessions (60 min) over 12 weeks

Face-to-face

Trained counsellor

 Webb et al. (2017) [55]

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)

Individual

Components: (1) didactic material on topics related to mindfulness (2) experiential practice of various mindfulness techniques during group sessions (e.g. meditations, yoga); and (3) discussions on the application of mindfulness to everyday life.

Nine sessions, duration not reported

Face-to-face

Trained counsellor

 Whiteley et al. (2018) [56]

iPhone game (BattleViro)

Individual

Multi-level gaming intervention for youth living with HIV guided by the Information Motivation and Behavioural Skills (IMB) model. Youth battle HIV and engage with healthcare providers.

Game available for 14 weeks. Twice weekly game-related text messages guided by monitoring device data for first 8 weeks.

ICT/Game

ICT/Game

Ongoing studies

 Agwu & Trent (2020) [57]

Tech2Check - technology-enhanced community health nursing intervention

Individual

Field visits by a Community Health Nurse trained in disease intervention protocols, including clinical assessment, case management, counseling, and a behavioural intervention coupled with text messaging support for medication and self-care reminders.

Not stated

Face-to-face/text messaging

HCW

 Amico et al. (2019) [58]

TERA (Triggered Escalating Real-Time Adherence)

Individual

Remote ‘face-to-face’ coaching with the assigned adherence coach; 1-way, discrete SMS text message; 2-way interactive outreach SMS from the coach if the electronic dose monitoring (EDM) bottle remains unopened after 1.5 h post dose time; incorporation of dosing data collected via the electronic dose monitoring into follow-up visits to facilitate problem-solving.

Coaching baseline, week 4 and week 12; continuous EDM with SMS outreach (12-week intervention)

Face-to-face/ ICT

Trained counsellors (TERA coaches)

 Belzer et al. (2018) [59]

Text message/Cell Phone support (SMART)/Scale-it-Up Programme

Individual

Adherence facilitators that assess if the participant has taken their ART for the day, encourage adherence and engage the participant in brief problem-solving around identified barriers.

Call once a day for 3 months, Mon-Fri

Telephone

Trained counsellors (AFs)

 Donenbeg & Dow (2016) [60]

IMPAACT Trauma Informed (TI) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (Group-Based Intervention to Improve Mental Health and Adherence Among Youth Living with HIV in Low-Resource Settings)

Group

Group-based psychosocial health education, cognitive restructuring, and mastery of trauma; identifying and problem-solving barriers to adherence; relaxation training.

Adolescents: Six 2-h TI-CBT group sessions led by IYL during weeks 1–6 and one 2-h booster TI-CBT group session at 6 months; Caregivers: Two 2-h group sessions led by adult study staff during weeks 1–6 and one 2-h booster group session at 6 months; Mixed-gender groups

Face-to-face

Peers (trained indigenous youth peer leaders)

 Horvath et al. (2019) [61]

YouThrive

Individual

1) Social support component: interface for participants to interact asynchronously through message posting; 2) ART and HIV related content presented as ‘Thrive tips’; 3) Medication adherence and mood self-monitoring: ‘My check-in’ feature; 4) Goal setting and monitoring: interface called ‘My Journey’; 5) weekly SMS to encourage youth to visit website; 6) Game mechanics: YT uses points that accumulate.

Access to website for 5 months, 3 thrive tips per day, weekly SMS engagement message

ICT

ICT – moderated by trained research staff

 Mimiaga et al. (2018) [62]

Positive STEPS

Individual

Step 1) Low-intensity, daily, personalised, two-way text messages; Step 2) Each session incorporates adolescent-specific adherence counseling, digital video vignettes focused on adherence problems and challenges.

Step 1: 12 months; Step 2: five sessions of 50 min (duration of intervention unclear)

ICT/Face-to-face

Trained counsellor (master’s level)

 Outlaw & Naar (2020) [63]

Motivational Enhancement System for Adherence (MESA)

Individual

Two computer-based sessions: 1) decisional balance exercise, confidence modules and goal setting, activities to boost self-efficacy. Personal feedback immune status and HIV knowledge. 2) Adherence behaviour over previous month, with actual adherence feedback, adherence behaviour over previous month and consequences of that behaviour.

2 brief sessions one month apart

ICT

Computer-delivered

 Arnold et al. (2019) [64]

Stepped Care Intervention

Individual

Level 1) Enhanced Care plus automated messaging and monitoring intervention (AMMI). Level 2) Secure, private online/social media peer-support intervention.

Level 3) Participants who fail to achieve viral suppression at levels 1 or

2 of the intervention will be assigned to a coaching intervention.

Level 1 text messages: 1–5 text messages per day for 24 months; Level 2 not reported; Level 3 not reported

ICT/face-to-face/phone

Trained counsellors (coaches)

 Sam-Agudu et al. (2017) [65]

Adolescent Coordinated Transition

Group

Altering paediatric-adult visits; monthly peer-led organised support group with curriculum content; a case management team consisting of a physician, a nurse, and a trained patient advocate.

4 times during pre-transfer (at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months); 3 times after transfer to adult clinic (at 15, 18 and 21 months) (total 36 months)

Face-to-face

HCW & Peer

 Sibinga (2018) [66]

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)

Group

1) Material related to mindfulness, meditation, yoga, mind-body connection; 2) Experiential practice of mindful meditation; 3) Group discussions focused on problem-solving related to barriers to effective practice.

2-h sessions every week for 8 weeks and one 3-h session in week 9

Face-to-face

Trained counsellor (MBSR instructor)

 Subramanian et al. (2019) [67]

Integrated Care Delivery of HIV Prevention and Treatment

(SHIELD)

Group

SHIELD: Educational modules on HIV prevention and treatment, general wellness, SRH, communication skills etc.; youth clubs.

Modules: a three-session, six-module program; Youth clubs: meet twice per month for 12 months; Modules for family members: 2 sessions, 4-module programme

Face-to-face

Peers for youth clubs; Unclear who will facilitate educational sessions

  1. aShort text messaging
  2. bHealthcare worker
  3. cInformation Communication Technology