Cho H, Iribarren S, Schnall R. (2017). Technology-mediated interventions and quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review. Applied Clinical Informatics. 8: 348-368. doi: 10.4338/ACI-2016-10-R-0175
Researchers conducted a literature review to evaluate the effect of technology-based interventions on quality of life (QoL) in people living with HIV/AIDS and to examine how QoL was assessed. Researchers identified ten randomized controlled trials that evaluated a computer- or internet-based (eHealth) intervention, a phone call-based (telehealth) intervention, or a mobile (mHealth) intervention for people living with HIV/AIDS that assessed effects on QoL. The studies included in the review evaluated eHealth interventions (3), telehealth interventions (4), a combined eHealth and telehealth intervention (1), and mHealth interventions (2). Most of the studies used general measures of QoL (e.g. Short Form 12, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview; 6) and others used measures of HIV-specific QoL indicators (e.g. World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-HIV Abbreviated Version, Patient Reported Outcomes Quality of Life-HIV; 4). Four interventions: two eHealth and two telehealth, had a positive impact on QoL, one mHealth intervention had a negative impact on QoL, and five interventions: two telehealth, one eHealth, one combined eHealth and telehealth, and one mHealth, had no effect on QoL. Researchers highlight the importance of evaluating effects on QoL when conducting trials of interventions for chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS. The evidence for technology-based interventions’ impact on quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS is inconclusive.