A Digital Platform to Support HIV Case Management for Youth and Young Adults: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• HIV/AIDS Management
• Adolescent and Young Adult Health

Background:

• HIV-related mortality and morbidity remain high in adolescents and young adults (AYA) despite medical advances.
• Effective case management is crucial for improving health outcomes in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the use, utility, and cost-effectiveness of PlusCare, a digital app designed for HIV case management in AYA living with HIV.
• To evaluate the app's support for routine case management tasks, including scheduling, document sharing, and communication.

Main Methods:

• A single-group mixed-methods pre-post study was conducted in two urban hospitals.
• Case managers (N=20) and AYA living with HIV participants (N=45) used the PlusCare app for up to 15 and 12 months, respectively.

Main Results:

• The app demonstrated marginal significance in reducing total healthcare charges by 41% at one site.
• Participants reported slight increases in self-efficacy for chronic disease management and quality of life.
• No significant changes were observed in HIV viral suppression, appointment adherence, or medication adherence.

Conclusions:

• Direct messaging and secure remote sharing of lab results/documents via the app were found to be particularly useful.
• The app has potential value in supporting care coordination, enhancing patient self-efficacy, and improving quality of life for AYA living with HIV.
• While perceived usability was low, qualitative feedback indicated significant utility in specific functions.