Midwest TXTXT Scale up of an Evidence-Based Intervention to Promote HIV Medication Adherence

In this study investigators propose to use implementation science (IS) to scale up and evaluate the TXTXT evidence-based intervention (EBI) as an effective strategy to increase ART adherence and retention in HIV care, ultimately leading to a suppression of viral load in youth and young adults with HIV (YYALH) participating in the intervention. Investigators hypothesize that participants who complete the TXTXT intervention will demonstrate a clinically meaningful increase in ART adherence, viral suppression, and sustained retention in care. Additionally, investigators hypothesize that the implementation of TXTXT will reach ≥80% of the intended participants, will be fully adopted by ≥80% of clinic partners, and will achieve ≥90% ratings of satisfaction and acceptability. Investigators will use mixed methods to complete the study aims: 1) determine the real-world efficacy of a regional scale up of an EBI - TXTXT - among poorly adherent YYALH, aged 16-35 years, on our primary outcomes: adherence and viral load suppression at 3-month post initiation of the intervention; and secondary outcome: retention in HIV care at 6- and 12-months post baseline, and 2) apply the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to describe the implementation process and identify barriers and facilitators needed to be addressed; and measure implementation outcomes of the TXTXT intervention using the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance). Investigators will conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the intervention effectiveness (i.e., ART adherence, viral load suppression) at 3- and 6-months post-initiation of the intervention. Twelve clinic sites with the ability to enroll up to 50 participants at each site (N=600 participants total) will be trained to administer the TXTXT intervention. Sites will be randomized to either start the intervention immediately (i.e., intervention arm) or waitlisted to start at 3 months post baseline (i.e., comparison arm). In the comparison arm, the study will compare pre-post differences in adherence at 3- and 6-months post baseline. Last, investigators will evaluate retention in HIV care, viral suppression, and sustained impact of the intervention at 6 months and 12 months post baseline for all study participants.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with HIV-infection and on ART regimen for at least one month
• Between 16-35 years of age
• Have a viral load ≥200c/mL and/or report poor adherence (<90% of pills taken in the last 30 days)
• Able to receive text messages
• Can provide informed consent for research component
• Current patient patient of a participating clinic

Exclusion criteria

• Participant is unable to give informed consent
• Participant is participating in another study related to ART adherence

Participants outside of the age range (16-35) will be excluded from the study because this study specifically focuses on youth and young adults living with HIV as they are more likely to disengage from care, delay initiation of ART, and have lower rates of virologic suppression compared to adult populations.