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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Nov 21;18(1):591.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-018-3475-0.

A randomized trial to assess retention rates using mobile phone reminders versus physical contact tracing in a potential HIV vaccine efficacy population of fishing communities around Lake Victoria, Uganda

Noah Kiwanuka  1   2 , Juliet Mpendo  3 , Stephen Asiimwe  4 , Julius Ssempiira  5 , Annet Nalutaaya  3 , Betty Nambuusi  6 , Mathias Wambuzi  3 , Brian Kabuubi  3 , Annemarie Namuniina  3 , Frederick Oporia  5 , Annet Nanvubya  3 , Ali Ssetaala  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized trial to assess retention rates using mobile phone reminders versus physical contact tracing in a potential HIV vaccine efficacy population of fishing communities around Lake Victoria, Uganda

Noah Kiwanuka et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: High retention (follow-up) rates improve the validity and statistical power of outcomes in longitudinal studies and the effectiveness of programs with prolonged administration of interventions. We assessed participant retention in a potential HIV vaccine trials population of fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Methods: In a community-based individual randomized trial, 662 participants aged 15-49 years were randomized to either mobile phone or physical contact tracing reminders and followed up at months 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 18 post-enrolment. The visit schedules aimed at mimicking a vaccine efficacy trial representing an early interval (months 1-6) where most vaccinations would be administered and a later period of post-vaccination follow-up. The primary outcome was retention measured as the proportion of post-baseline follow up visits completed by a participant. Retention was estimated in early and later follow-up intervals, and overall for all the six follow-up visits. Adjusted differences in retention between the study arms were determined by multivariable logistic regression using Stata® 14. One participant was later dropped from the analysis because of age ineligibility discovered after enrolment.

Results: Of the expected total follow up visits of 3966 among 661 participants, 84.1% (3334) were attained; 82.1% (1626/1980) in the phone arm and 86% (1708/1986) in the physical tracing arm (p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences in retention were observed between the study arms in the first 6 months but thereafter, retention was significantly higher for physical contact reminders than mobile phones; 91.5% versus 82.1% (p < 0.0001) at month 12 and 82.8% versus 75.4%, (p = 0.021) at month 18. Controlling for sex, age, education, occupation, community location, length of stay and marital status, the odds of good retention (completing 5 out of 6 follow-up visits) were 1.56 (95% CI;1.08-2.26, p = 0.018) for physical contact tracing compared to mobile phone tracing. Other statistically significant predictors of good retention were residing on islands and having stayed in the fishing communities for 5 or more years.

Conclusions: Among fishing communities of Lake Victoria, Uganda, 84% of follow-up visits can be attained and participant retention is higher using physical contact reminders than mobile phones.

Trial registration number: PACTR201311000696101 ( http://www.pactr.org/ ). retrospectively registered on 05 November, 2013.

Keywords: Fishing communities; HIV vaccine; Retention (follow-up) rates.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The protocol was reviewed and approved by the Uganda Virus Research Institute Research and Ethics Committee, and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants aged at least 18 years. For participants aged less than 18 years (minors), assent was obtained and consent from a parent or guardian.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Trial profile
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Proportion of follow-up at scheduled visits by study arm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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