Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Video-Intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life for Adolescents

Malawi1,800 participantsStarted 2025-07-25

Plain-language summary

This a two-arm randomized controlled trial whose objective is to explore the impact of VITAL Start for Adolescents (VS4A), a video-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence intervention, on a range of implementation and effectiveness outcomes. The study will be conducted in health facilities which provide HIV care to teens/adolescents in the Machinga and Balaka districts of Malawi with approximately 900 teens living with HIV and their treatment supporters (dyads). Dyads will be individually randomized on a 1:1 ratio to receive either the intervention or the standard of care. The VS4A intervention is designed to support Information, Motivation, and Behavioral skills (IMB) around adolescent ART adherence as well as strategies for enhancing treatment supporter social support. The intervention consists of: 1) a two-session video package with associated activities that both the adolescent and their treatment supporter will be asked to watch and participate in; 2) ART refill for the adolescent; 3) and intensive adherence counselling for those with a high viral load. The primary outcomes are adoption of the intervention and adolescent viral load suppression. The overall hypothesis is that VS4A will achieve high adoption and improve adolescent viral suppression.

Who can participate

Age range

10 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Adolescents Inclusion Criteria: * 10-19 years of age * In care at the health facility * Aware of their HIV status * Provide informed consent (if aged 18+ years) or assent and guardian informed consent (if aged 10-17 years). * Exclusion Criteria: if their ability to provide informed consent or assent is impaired Treatment supporters Inclusion Criteria: * \>18 years old * named as a treatment supporter of an adolescent study participant * willing to provide informed consent for oneself * Exclusion Criteria: if their ability to provide informed consent is impaired

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Adolescent Viral Load Measure

Timeframe: By 47 weeks

Adoption of VS4 intervention at teen club

Timeframe: By Week 24

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07064785

SponsorBaylor College of Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-09-30

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