Examining the acceptability of mHealth technology in HIV prevention among high-risk drug users in treatment.

Shrestha R, Huedo-Medina TB, Altice FL, Krishnan A, Copenhaver M. (2016). Examining the acceptability of mHealth technology among high-risk drug users in treatment. AIDS and Behavior. PMID: 28025735
 
Researchers recruited 400 people enrolled in a methadone maintenance program who were HIV negative and reported HIV risk behaviors (i.e. needle sharing and sex without condoms). Participants completed assessments of prescription medications, medication adherence, HIV risk behaviors, communication technology access and use, mhealth acceptability and preferences, and neurocognitive impairment (NCI). The majority of participants (91.5%) reported having daily access to a cell phone, and 63.5% of these reported having daily access to a smartphone. Participants reported having access to other communication technologies at lower rates. Participants most often reported using their cell phones for making and receiving calls and texts. Patients reported that they would like to receive reminders about their medications (72.3%), receive information about HIV (65.8%), and assess HIV risk behaviors (54.5% drug-related, 64.8% sex-related). Participants most often endorsed receiving medication reminders daily (43.5%). Participants with NCI were more likely to use a basic cellphone, less likely to use a smartphone, and more likely to approve of mhealth to receive medication reminders.