NCT05965245

Brief Summary

The overall goal of this study is to develop an mHealth intervention (Suubi-Mhealth) for use among Ugandan youth (14-17 years) with comorbid HIV and depression, taking into account their unique contextual, cultural, and developmental needs. This digital therapy intervention delivered via a mobile application, will utilize the core tenets of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) found to improve depression and ART adherence.

Trial Health

78
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
248

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable depression

Timeline
15mo left

Started Nov 2022

Longer than P75 for not_applicable depression

Geographic Reach
2 countries

2 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress75%
Nov 2022Aug 2027

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 23, 2022

Completed
8 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 12, 2023

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 28, 2023

Completed
4.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 31, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 31, 2027

Last Updated

May 12, 2026

Status Verified

May 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.8 years

First QC Date

July 12, 2023

Last Update Submit

May 11, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

    Depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Change in the mean score on the PHQ-9 over time will be assessed. The total score ranges between 0-27, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depressive symptoms.

    Baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (8)

  • ART Treatment Adherence

    Baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months

  • Brief Symptoms Index (BSI)

    Baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months

  • Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)

    Baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months

  • Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOSHIV)

    Baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months

  • HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination Scale

    Baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months

  • +3 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Suubi-Mhealth

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this condition will receive the Suubi-Mhealth intervention delivered via a smart phone app.

Behavioral: Suubi-Mhealth

Waitlist Control

OTHER

Participants in this condition will receive the Suubi-Mhealth intervention after the active treatment group. They will also receive a smart phone without the Suubi-Mhealth app at the same time as the intervention group.

Behavioral: Suubi-Mhealth

Interventions

Suubi-MhealthBEHAVIORAL

Suubi-Mhealth is a theoretically-based digital therapeutics tool that aims to provide educational content on depression while considering the unique needs of SSA youth living with HIV. This educational content will be aligned with scientific recommendations for cognitive-behavioral therapy for adherence and depression as applied to HIV medication adherence. Core instruction will include psychoeducation on the interplay between HIV and depression; minimizing cognitive distortions related to ART adherence and stigma, as well as depression; challenging negative automatic thoughts; analysis and development of behavioral skills; reducing environmental stressors. Suubi-Mhealth will also have a social networking center in which patients can contact the research team, peers who are also taking part in this intervention, and other trusted individuals such as loved ones. Other features include tools for setting and monitoring goals, and a clinical management dashboard for the research team.

Suubi-MhealthWaitlist Control

Eligibility Criteria

Age14 Years - 17 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Ages 14-17 years
  • HIV positive and aware of their status i.e., disclosed to
  • Prescribed antiretroviral therapy
  • Living within a family, including with extended family members (not in institutions)
  • Health care providers who work with youth at participating clinics who agree to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

  • A significant cognitive impairment that interferes with the participant's understanding of the informed consent process, or inability/unwillingness to commit to completing the study

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Washington University in St. Louis

St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States

Location

International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD)

Masaka, Uganda

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Nabunya P, Cavazos-Rehg P, Mugisha J, Kasson E, Namuyaba OI, Najjuuko C, Nsubuga E, Filiatreau LM, Mwebembezi A, Ssewamala FM. An mHealth Intervention to Address Depression and Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Youths Living With HIV in Uganda: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Mar 8;13:e54635. doi: 10.2196/54635.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

DepressionHIV Infections

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral SymptomsBehaviorBlood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsSexually Transmitted Diseases, ViralSexually Transmitted DiseasesLentivirus InfectionsRetroviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesGenital DiseasesUrogenital DiseasesImmunologic Deficiency SyndromesImmune System Diseases

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 12, 2023

First Posted

July 28, 2023

Study Start

November 23, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2027

Last Updated

May 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Once all of the data has been de-identified, cleaned, and validated, and main findings have been published, the Investigators expect to share data with the scientific community. The research team will make datasets available to any individual who makes a direct request to the PI and indicates the data will be used for the purposes of research (per Code of Federal Regulations Title 45 Part 46: "Research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge."). In sharing participant data, the team will follow Washington University in St. Louis' Office of Sponsored Projects' data sharing agreement.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, ANALYTIC CODE

Locations