Feasibility and acceptability of a psychosocial and adherence electronic patient reported outcomes (PROs) system at an HIV care center in southern India

ABSTRACT

Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs), which consist of questionnaires administered directly to patients via handheld device or computer, allow for the routine and systematic capture of sensitive domains as well as longitudinal data on functional status, symptom severity, and physical and psychological well-being. There have been few examples of PROs in HIV care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and none in India. We conducted a study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PROs at the Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. We adapted an adherence and psychosocial questionnaire into an electronic PRO format and administered it to a convenience sample of 50 participants. Almost all participants indicated that the PRO questionnaire was easy to complete and understand (96%). The percentage who needed any staff help was 83% among illiterate participants but only 13% among literate participants (p<0.001). In summary, an electronic PRO questionnaire was feasible and acceptable in an HIV care center in southern India. Further study, with special attention towards optimizing PROs for persons with low literacy and limited technology experience, is needed to maximize the potential of PROs within HIV care in India.

KEYWORDS:

• Patient reported outcomes
• India
• adherence
• sexual risk behavior
• substance use
• depression

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the many YRG CARE staff who participated in this project and the participants who shared their time and insights. We also are indebted to Chris Grasso for providing ideas and insight that helped to shape this project. The authors acknowledge the following sources of support: Harvard Global Health Institute (Sinha, Yang), NIH K23MH110338 (Chan).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Kenneth H. Mayer http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7460-733X

Brian T. Chan http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6971-3039

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health: [Grant Number K23MH110338]; Harvard Global Health Institute.