@article{fdi:010079080,
  title = {{A}ppointment reminders to increase uptake of {HIV} retesting by at-risk individuals : a randomized controlled study in {T}hailand},
  author = {{S}alvadori, {N}. and {A}dam, {P}. and {M}ary, {J}. {Y}. and {D}ecker, {L}uc and {S}abin, {L}. and {C}hevret, {S}. and {A}runothong, {S}. and {K}hamduang, {W}. and {L}uangsook, {P}. and {S}uksa-ardphasu, {V}. and {A}chalapong, {J}. and {R}ouzioux, {C}. and {S}irirungsi, {W}. and {N}go-{G}iang-{H}uong, {N}icole and {J}ourdain, {G}onzague},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}ntroduction {F}requent {HIV} testing of at-risk individuals is crucial to detect and treat infections early and prevent transmissions. {W}e assessed the effect of reminders on {HIV} retesting uptake. {M}ethods {T}he study was conducted within a programme involving four facilities providing free-of-charge {HIV}, syphilis and hepatitis {B} and {C} testing and counselling in northern {T}hailand. {I}ndividuals found {HIV} negative and identified at risk by counsellors were invited to participate in a three-arm, open-label, randomized, controlled trial comparing: (a) "{N}o {A}ppointment & {N}o {R}eminder" (control arm); (b) "{N}o {A}ppointment but {R}eminder": short message service ({SMS}) sent 24 weeks after the enrolment visit to remind booking an appointment, and sent again one week later if no appointment was booked; and (c) "{A}ppointment & {R}eminder": appointment scheduled during the enrolment visit and {SMS} sent one week before appointment to ask for confirmation; if no response: single call made within one business day. {T}he primary endpoint was a {HIV} retest within seven months after the enrolment visit. {T}he cost of each reminder strategy was calculated as the sum of the following costs in {U}nited {S}tates dollars ({USD}): time spent by participants, counsellors and hotline staff; phone calls made; and {SMS} sent. {T}he target sample size was 217 participants per arm (651 overall). {R}esults {B}etween {A}pril and {N}ovember 2017, 651 participants were randomized. {T}he proportion presenting for {HIV} retesting within seven months was 11.2% (24/215) in the control arm, versus 19.3% (42/218) in "{N}o {A}ppointment but {R}eminder" (p = 0.023) and 36.7% (80/218) in "{A}ppointment & {R}eminder" (p < 0.001). {D}ifferences in proportions compared to the control arm were respectively +8.1% (95% {CI}: +1.4% to +14.8%) and +25.5% (+17.9% to +33.2%). {T}he incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of "{N}o {A}ppointment but {R}eminder" and "{A}ppointment & {R}eminder" compared to the control arm were respectively {USD} 0.05 and {USD} 0.14 per participant for each 5% increase in {HIV} retesting uptake within seven months. {C}onclusions {S}cheduling an appointment and sending a reminder one week before was a simple, easy-to-implement and affordable intervention that significantly increased {HIV} retesting uptake in these at-risk individuals. {T}he personal phone call to clients probably contributed, and also improved service efficiency.},
  keywords = {reminder ; appointment ; text messaging ; cell phone ; testing ; retesting ; {THAILANDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of the {I}nternational {AIDS} {S}ociety},
  volume = {23},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {art. e25478 [8 ]},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.1002/jia2.25478},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079080},
}