Adaptive evaluation of mHealth and conventional adherence support interventions to optimize outcomes with new treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV in South Africa (ADAP-TIV): study protocol for an adaptive randomized controlled trial

Background: Highly effective, short-course, bedaquiline-containing treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing fixed dose combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) have radically transformed treatment for MDR-TB and HIV. However, without advances in adherence support, we may not realize the full potential of these therapeutics. The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of adherence support interventions on clinical and biological endpoints using an adaptive randomized platform.

Methods: This is a prospective, adaptive, randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of four adherence support strategies on a composite clinical outcome in adults with MDR-TB and HIV initiating bedaquiline-containing MDR-TB treatment regimens and receiving ART in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Trial arms include (1) enhanced standard of care, (2) psychosocial support, (3) mHealth using cellular-enabled electronic dose monitoring, and (4) combined mHealth and psychosocial support. The level of support will be titrated using a differentiated service delivery (DSD)-informed assessment of treatment support needs. The composite primary outcome will include survival, negative TB culture, retention in care, and undetectable HIV viral load at month 12. Secondary outcomes will include individual components of the primary outcome and quantitative evaluation of adherence on TB and HIV treatment outcomes.

Discussion: This trial will evaluate the contribution of different modes of adherence support on MDR-TB and HIV outcomes with WHO-recommended all-oral MDR-TB regimens and ART in a high-burden operational setting. We will also assess the utility of a DSD framework to pragmatically adjust levels of MDR-TB and HIV treatment support.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05633056. Registered on 1 December 2022.