Technologies for healthy lifestyle in people with HIV: a systematic review.
Gilmara Holanda da Cunha, Yrene Esperanza Urbina Rojas, Maiara Bezerra Dantas and 3 others
PMID 40344403WHAT IT FOUND
Apps, booklets, motivational interviews and phone calls improved healthy lifestyle, ART adherence, stress, smoking or depression in adults with HIV across eight randomized trials.
The review did not combine the results, and every trial had some weaknesses.
Key findings
01Eight randomized trials in adults with HIV evaluated technologies for healthy lifestyle.
02Apps, booklets, motivational interviews and phone calls were the technologies used, and all were reported to improve lifestyle.
03The review could not combine results because the trials differed, and all eight had some risk of bias.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only eight randomized trials were included, and the review could not combine their results because the studies tested different technologies and measured different outcomes. All eight trials had some risk of bias, including unclear blinding, group differences, pandemic-related conditions and incomplete reporting. The review excluded children, adolescents and pregnant women, so it does not address healthy-lifestyle technology for those groups. Some technologies required a phone, internet, reading ability or a private place, which can limit use for patients with low income, low literacy or stigma. The included trials varied widely in sample size and setting, so the review cannot identify the most effective technology or dose.
Declared interests
The study was financed in part by the Brazilian research agency CNPq under process 401923/2024-0.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that mobile apps are proven better than booklets, motivational interviewing or phone calls. The review did not compare these technologies directly or pool the trial results, and all included trials had some weaknesses.