Ask, don’t tell, for better HIV care

We all know how it feels to be nagged – and how quickly we tune it out – even when we know the nagger means well and the information is good for us.

For the 34 million men and women worldwide living with HIV, sticking to the antiretroviral therapy (ART) can make the difference between life and death, and mobile devices are increasingly being explored as an ally to help achieve this. This summer, the World Health Organization strongly recommended text messaging as a reminder tool to increase adherence to ART.

A 2010 study my colleagues and I conducted in Kenya showed that a simple “Mambo” (“how are you?”) check-in message delivered weekly to HIV patients’ mobile phones, backed up by prompt follow-ups when participants require help, improved the outcomes of their treatment and the efficiency of the health care providers.

But recent studies show that medication reminders and motivational messages did little to keep patients on medication.

Dr. Richard Lester
UBC News
Read More

Scroll to Top

Canada Post has provided notification of restarting their operations on December 17, 2024. As Canada Post ramps up and stabilizes their services, the BC-CfE will continue the following measures on an interim basis to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory will utilize private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy will utilize private courier for delivery of medications. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

Start typing and press enter to search