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Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
TITLE OF PROJECT: A Review of Mobile Phone Applications for the Care and Prevention
of HIV
FERGUSON FELLOW: Camille Pottinger, MPH (c), Yale School of Public Health
MENTORS:Ted Duncan, PhD and Kathleen Green, MS, PhD and Rhondette Jones, MPH
PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE: Mobile phone health applications may be a cost- effective
intervention for persons with HIV who have smart phones. Applications may improve medication and
healthcare compliance, positively affecting population groups that have high prevalence rates of HIV and
those with a high risk of transmitting the infection to others.
BACKGROUND: Mobile phones continue to grow increasingly popular among all groups of people and
serve as a social media in which to share and learn about various kinds of information including health and
medical related information. The CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Capacity Building Branch plans
to use this media by introducing the “Every Dose Every Day” Mobile Phone Application.
OBJECTIVES: (1) To identify and review currently available mobile applications for the care and treatment
of HIV and (2) to determine how CDC’s new mobile application, “Every Dose Every Day” will address
existing gaps in HIV medication adherence, care, and treatment.
METHODS: Search of the Apple iTunes and Android Google Play stores for HIV care and treatment apps
that exclusively target people living with HIV. Each app was downloaded, tested and assessed for user
ratings and functionality. Broad content areas searched included: HIV, HIV medication adherence, HIV
treatment, and support for HIV-positive persons.
RESULTS: Search queries up to June 2014 identified 1395 applications. Of these, 9 apps met the inclusion
criteria (2 for Android, 2 for IPhone, and 5 for both platforms). Existing gaps included finding few amounts
of applications specifically targeting HIV medication adherence, mixed or bad reviews, low numbers of
installs, and no comprehensive HIV medication adherence content.
CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating mobile phone applications into HIV intervention compliance and
adherence efforts may be important for future public health practices focused on improving adherence of
HIV care and treatment. Mobile phone applications may improve attendance at doctor’s appointments and
compliance with medication regimens with the ultimate goal of decreasing viral load.
IMPLICATIONS: The current study reviewed available health applications for individuals with HIV,
identifying features that may be added to the Every Dose Every Day application to enhance its effectiveness.