Home Telehealth with Video for HIV/AIDS

Overseen By Paula D Wagener, BA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Significant disability, Incarceration

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether adding video to home telehealth services helps people with HIV stay engaged in their healthcare. The study aims to determine if video calls make it easier for patients to manage their condition from home. Participants will either receive video-assisted care or continue with their usual care routine. Ideal candidates are those with HIV receiving treatment at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, who can speak English and consent to using video for their care. As an unphased trial, this study offers patients the chance to contribute to innovative healthcare solutions that could enhance their treatment experience.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this video telehealth method is safe for HIV care?

Research has shown that video telehealth, such as VA Video Connect (VVC), is generally safe for patients. Studies have found that video consultations can offer the same health benefits as in-person doctor visits, which is encouraging for those considering video telehealth for managing HIV.

In another study, video telehealth was used for diabetes care among veterans and proved to be as safe and effective as traditional doctor visits. This suggests that video care technology is generally well-received.

No major safety issues have been reported with VVC. People using video for telehealth have experienced similar satisfaction levels and completed about the same number of sessions as those attending in-person visits. This indicates that most patients do well with video telehealth.

Overall, evidence suggests that VVC is safe for healthcare settings, including HIV care, and could be a great option for those interested in trying telehealth. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Home Telehealth with Video for HIV/AIDS trial because it explores a new way to deliver HIV care using VA Video Connect (VVC). Unlike the traditional method of in-person visits, VVC allows patients to receive care remotely through video calls. This approach aims to make healthcare more accessible and convenient, especially for those who might have difficulty traveling to clinics. By potentially improving the consistency and timeliness of care, VVC could lead to better health outcomes for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

What evidence suggests that adding video to home telehealth services is effective for HIV care?

Studies have shown that adding video to home telehealth services can benefit people with HIV. In this trial, participants may receive HIV care through VA Video Connect (VVC). Research indicates that VVC helps keep patients in care by about 12% more and supports adherence to antiretroviral therapy, which is crucial for controlling the virus. Evidence suggests that video telehealth offers results comparable to traditional in-person care in terms of patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment plans. These findings highlight the potential benefits of using video in healthcare for people with HIV. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jan Alexandra Lindsay, PhD

Principal Investigator

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with HIV who are patients at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX. Participants must speak English and be able to consent to using Video to Home Telehealth services (VVC). Those with significant physical or mental disabilities preventing VVC use, or who are incarcerated, cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

Patient in the Infectious Diseases clinic at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), Houston, TX, with HIV infection

Able to consent to the use of VVC

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to use or consent to use VVC, due to either significant physical or mental disability

Incarcerated (though MEDVAMC does not generally provide care for prisoners)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive HIV care through VA Video Connect or usual care over a 12-month period

12 months

Regular visits as per usual care schedule

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adherence to ART medications and retention in care

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• VVC

Trial Overview The study is testing how adding video calls (VVC) to home telehealth services affects the ability of HIV patients to stay engaged in their care. It aims to determine the effectiveness of this technology and how it can be implemented successfully.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: VVC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Option to receive VA Video Connect (VVC) delivery of HIV care.

Group II: Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

All HIV care available at MEDVAMC will be delivered as usual.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8621621/

Pivoting to Video Telehealth for Delivery of HIV Care During ... Primary clinical effectiveness outcomes included HIV suppression, adherence to antiretroviral therapy medications, and adherence to counseling, with outcome ...

2. trial.medpath.com trial.medpath.com/clinical-trial/e56c491ebf78a8cd/nct04055207-va-video-connect-multi-disciplinary-care

VA Video Connect in HIV Care | MedPath The purpose of this research study is to see how effective the addition of video to home telehealth services is in helping patients with HIV ...

3. hsrd.research.va.gov hsrd.research.va.gov/research/abstracts.cfm?Project_ID=2141706989

IIR 18-077 – HSR Study - VA Health Systems Research The study will enroll 360 Veterans and is powered to detect a 12% absolute improvement in retention in care, the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04545489

A Nurse-led Intervention to Extend the Veteran HIV ... If shown to be effective, this intervention will have substantial impact among high-risk Veterans, potentially reducing ASCVD events by more than a quarter.

5. va.gov va.gov/HEALTHEQUITY/Telehealth_Disparities2.asp

Telehealth Disparities and VA Video Connect Notably, evidence suggests that video treatment provided to Veterans has similar outcomes of patient satisfaction, number of sessions completed ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11459566/

A mixed-methods study of VA video connect utilization among ... This study examines VA video connect (VVC) use for diabetes care among veterans with housing instability during the pandemic, using mixed ...

7. hsrd.research.va.gov hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/management_briefs/default.cfm?ManagementBriefsMenu=eBrief-no206&eBriefTitle=Evidence+Brief%3A+Safety+and+Effectiveness+of+Telehealth-delivered+Mental+Healthcare+

Evidence Brief: Safety and Effectiveness of Telehealth ... Most available studies reported telehealth-delivered mental healthcare and in-person delivery of the same intervention were similarly safe and effective.

8. tenovi.com tenovi.com/va-virtual-care/

VA Virtual Care - Leading the Way in Remote Health VA virtual care, served 2.4M Veterans via telehealth in 2023. This article discusses research planning to advance virtual care quality.