The background and problem statement focuses on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the
use of mobile technology to improve compliance within a primary health care (PHC) context
in South Africa. South Africa is one of the countries, globally, with the highest HIV incidence
and prevalence and ART enrolled patients visiting PHC facilities. Compliance to ART plays
an integral part in effective HIV/AIDS management. HIV/AIDS management entails a
complex process of patient education and pharmacological control to improve ART
compliance in South Africa. Studies were done in South Africa on reminder messages as
most studies focused on chronic conditions in general. A literature review explored what is
known about ART and mobile technology to improve compliance. Literature confirmed that
compliance through reminder messages were done worldwide and in Sub-Saharan
countries. Previous research indicated that the compliance rate of the patients increased
through reminder messages. Yet there is a gap in the literature regarding reminder
messages combined with health education on ART compliance. The aim of the study was to
determine the impact of reminder messages combined with health education on ART
compliance among patients receiving ART at a PHC facility
Methodology: The study followed a quantitative, experimental, intervention, randomised
multi-group, pre- and post measurement design (Creswell, 2012:1, Welman et al., 2012:80).
The research design is experimental because the researcher applied an intervention
(reminder messages) to two experimental groups. Random sampling was applied and
participants were grouped into three groups: Group A, (control group), Group B, (reminder
messages only) and Group C (reminder messages combined with health education). A preand
post-measurement design is followed as each participant’s pill count and return date
were measured before and after the reminder messages with/without health education were
given. The sample size was 202 eligible patients receiving Regime 1 and 2 ART’s
(Lamuvidine, Tenofovir, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Alluvia® and Zidovudine) at a PHC facility in
the North West, South Africa (N=202). The sample size was determined with guidance of
statistical services to ensure that results obtained from the study would be reliable and
significant. Data collection was done in three phases. Phase one (1) consisted of collecting
the biographical data and a pre-measurement of pill count and return dates for participants in
Groups A, B and C. Phase two (2) consisted of sending bi-weekly messages (Group B) via
WinSMS and with health education (Group C) for three (3) months. Phase three (3)
consisted of post-measurement of participants’ pill count and return date for Groups A,B and
C. Data collection stretched over six months (October 2013-March 2014), namely three months pre-measurement, then activation of intervention combined with another three
months post-measurement.
Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted through SPSS (SPSS Inc.,
2013). Descriptive statistics indicated that more female patients visited the PHC facility for
ART on a more regular basis. It was concluded that the experimental group proved a slight
increase in compliance with regards to return date after the SMS intervention. No difference
was noted in compliance to pill counts. It can also be concluded that pill counts is a complex
monitoring procedure with room for error from the patients’ aspect. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/14255 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Botha, Stephani |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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