Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Until recent years, HIV illness was characterized by a predominately downward trajectory that ended with death after months of debilitating AIDS-defining diseases. The advent in 1996 of the new highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) extended survival and reduced the prevalence of AIDS opportunistic infections in many HIV-infected individuals. However, HAART has also created new challenges with important implications for mental health interventions. Threats regarding physical survival have to a large extent been replaced by the distress associated with chronic illness. Hence, as HIV-infected individuals live longer, it is increasingly important for clinicians and researchers to better understand and improve well-being and quality of life. Consequently, this study aims at testing a web-based intervention that was developed to address mental health issues among HIV-infected individuals.
Who can participate?
The study recruited a group of HIV-infected patients, aged 18 or older, on antiretroviral therapy at an outpatient clinic at Oslo University Hospital (Norway).
What does the study involve?
All participants that accepted the study invitation were randomly allocated into two groups (experiment or control group). Those participants that were assigned to the experiment group were given access to the intervention, called Avanti. Avanti is a web-based self-help program that is designed to improve and manage HIV patients' symptoms of depression and well-being. Avanti consists of 13 sessions and lasts for 4 weeks. The control group did not receive any intervention other than medical treatment as usual. Control participants were, however, given access to Avanti when the final survey data were collected. All participants were surveyed at the start of the study and 1 and 3 months later.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants that receive the web-based intervention can potentially experience decreases in depressive symptoms and increases in well-being. There are no expected negative side effects from treatment.
Where is the study run from?
The study is conducted at the outpatient clinic at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Ullevål, Oslo University Hospital (OUH).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in February 2011 and the final data collection ended in October 2011.
Who is funding the study?
The study was funded by Abbott Laboratories (Norway) and the intervention was funded by Medicus Plesner (Norway).
Who is the main contact?
Filip Drozd
fd@changetech.no
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Mr Filip Drozd
ORCID ID
Contact details
Changetech AS
Gaustadalleen 21
Oslo
0349
Norway
+47 97 516 188
fd@changetech.no
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
A digital psychological intervention for HIV patients in adjunct to medical treatment a randomized clinical trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
1. The web-based intervention decreases symptoms of depression at 3 months as compared to the treatment-as-usual group
2. The web-based intervention increases satisfaction with life at 3 months as compared to the treatment-as-usual group
3.1. The web-based intervention increases positive affect at 3 months as compared to the treatment-as-usual group
3.2. The web-based intervention decreases negative affect at 3 months as compared to the treatment-as-usual grou
3.3. The web-based intervention increases overall mood at 3 months as compared to the treatment-as-usual group
4. Are there any moderators (e.g., age, time since first HIV seropositive test, time since start of antiretroviral therapy) of treatment effect on depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affect?
Ethics approval
1. Oslo University Hospital Ethics Committee, 27/09/2010, ref: 1557
2. Regional Ethics Commitee (http://helseforskning.etikkom.no), 15/02/2011, ref: 2010/2948-1
Study design
Two-armed randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
GP practices
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Patients infected with HIV for more than 12 months.
Intervention
The intervention is called Avanti.
Avanti is a web-based self-help program that is designed to improve and manage HIV patients' symptoms of depression and well-being. Avanti consists of 13 sessions and lasts for 4 weeks. Once a user is registered he or she will receive an email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with a unique link to each new session. Every session consists of unique content. The intervention contains psychoeducative information and applies techniques, and exercises from positive psychology and metacognitive therapy. These techniques and exercises are designed to improve well-being and manage negative emotions and thoughts. However, Avanti is not intended as a replacement but rather a supplement to existing treatments.
The control group did not receive any intervention other than medical treatment as usual. Control participants were, however, given access to Avanti when the final survey data were collected.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977)
2. Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985)
3. Positive & Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson, Clarke & Tellegen, 1988)
All participants were measures on primary outcomes on baseline, 1, and 3 months post-intervention enrollment.
Secondary outcome measures
No secondary outcome measures
Overall trial start date
15/02/2011
Overall trial end date
15/10/2011
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Patients registered at the outpatient clinic at Department of Infectious Diseases, Ullevål, Oslo University Hospital
2. 18 years or older
3. Norwegian - speaking
4. White - caucasian
5. HIV infected
6. Not infected by drug use
7. On antiretroviral therapy >12 months prior to inclusion
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Approximately 60 patients were needed across the two treatment arms
Participant exclusion criteria
Does meet inculsion criteria
Recruitment start date
15/02/2011
Recruitment end date
15/10/2011
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Norway
Trial participating centre
Changetech AS
Oslo
0349
Norway
Sponsor information
Organisation
Abbott Laboratories (Norway)
Sponsor details
Martin Linges vei 25
PO Box 1
N-1330 Fornebu
Oslo
1330
Norway
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
Abbott Laboratories (Norway)
Alternative name(s)
Abbott
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Research institutes and centers
Location
United States of America
Funder name
Medicus-Plesner (Norway)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list