In October 2000, the Midwest’s largest HIV/AIDS provider received federal funding for a demonstration project that uses computers to address treatment adherence and patient-provider communication among a high risk, inner city population. COMET includes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a specialized computer network. An important goal is to make the technology an integral part of patient self-management and provider care. We will describe system development, summarize the key components of the COMET system, and report preliminary findings regarding computer use and patient satisfaction. The initial grant funds the development of the system and a pilot with 200 patient participants and their providers. The planning and design of COMET involves the direct input of clients, providers, and community members through focus groups, a Steering Committee, and a Clinician Advisory Panel. We will report on the focus groups and their impact on COMET’s design, review COMET's computer modules, and discuss patient and provider training. We will also describe how COMET plans to support medical providers by providing communication through e-mail from patients between visits and providing access to prescribing information. COMET will collect data on how participants use the system and survey participants on-line. We will review the evaluation of the project and the indicators of satisfaction, quality of life, medication adherence, and medical outcomes that are being collected to assess whether COMET improves adherence and outcomes. Finally, we will discuss plans to replicate the successful components of COMET in the community.
Learning Objectives: 1) Describe developmental plans for an innovative computer program designed to help HIV/AIDS patients and their providers improve treatment adherence, communication, and care delivery. 2) Illustrate how an innovative and interactive technology tool can educate patients with HIV/AIDS about the importance of treatment adherence, encourage patients to discuss treatment adherence issues with their providers, and assess changes in treatment adherence among HIV/AIDS patients. 3) Develop a model for planning and evaluating an information technology intervention for HIV/AIDS patients and providers.
Keywords: Adherence, Information Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.