NCT06913660

ALHIV Smartphone Game Study

A Smartphone Game to Increase Engagement in Care Among African Adolescents Living With HIV

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (actual)
• Sponsor: Emory University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 15 Years – 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This is a cluster-randomized controlled trial that aims to conduct comprehensive feasibility testing of a smartphone game in a sample of 120 adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) ages 15-21 in Kisumu, Kenya, to determine whether the game influences behavioral mediators of engagement in care and sexual risk avoidance and reduction (including knowledge, attitudes, behavioral intentions, and self-efficacy).

Detailed description

This is a cluster-randomized feasibility study that will involve clinic-level randomization of 120 ALHIV participants (12 from each of 10 clinical centers). Participants will either use the intervention (a smartphone game) or continue standard treatment and support for HIV. Participants will complete 5 surveys about behaviors, attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy relating to engagement in care, ART adherence, and sexual and reproductive health. They will also have blood drawn 3 times to measure their HIV viral load. Intervention-arm participants will also complete app experience surveys. A sample of intervention-arm participants will be invited to provide feedback on their experience in interviews (n=10) and/or focus groups (n=30).

Conditions

• Hiv
• AIDS
• Adolescent Behavior
• Treatment Compliance
• Treatment Adherence
• Reproductive Behavior
• Sexual Behavior

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	MyGoals	A smartphone game for ALHIV aged 15-21 yrs MyGoals includes 3 components: 1. A role-playing narrative in which all players make decisions for male and female characters navigating scenarios from adolescence and early adulthood. 2. A series of mini-games to reinforce knowledge, skills and related self-efficacy, explored in the narrative. 3. A metanarrative component, My Story, where players will create an avatar and set personal goals.
BEHAVIORAL	Standard of care	A minimum standard of care package will be identified prior to identification and recruitment of CCCs to ensure a comparable and adequate level of care is being offered to all control participants, since implementation of the range of support and care strategies recommended by the Kenya Ministry of Health differs by clinic.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-07
• Primary completion: 2026-07-01
• Completion: 2026-07-01
• First posted: 2025-04-06
• Last updated: 2025-08-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Kenya