# A Multisite Randomized Trial of BattleViro: A Mobile Gaming App to Improve ART Adherence for Youth

> **NIH NIH R01** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $694,955

## Abstract

Despite need for consistent adherence to medical care, youth living with HIV (YLWH) have low rates of
adherence and retention in care, and are at great risk for being lost to follow-up.(5,16-18) There is a great
need for adherence interventions that are novel and appealing for YLWH.(7,8,14) We developed, and
preliminarily examined, a multi-level technology that integrates a 7-day smart medication device (Wisepill)
WITH an immersive and appealing smartphone app/game that is attractive and engaging for YLWH.(82,83)
During gameplay, YLWH fight HIV in colorful and immersive organ systems, and receive adherence related
text messages with game graphics. Wisepill openings guide game-related text messages and can result in
bonus points in the app/game. We tested the Multilevel Gaming Intervention in a developmental trial. The
impact of the intervention was greatest among those who had newly begun ART. In participants who had newly
begun ART, the intervention decreased viral load and improved ART adherence. Those newly starting ART in
the intervention, compared to those newly starting ART in the control, experienced a 0.96 log viral load greater
decrease and evidenced a large effect size for improved adherence as measured by Wisepill (d=1.18, 71% vs.
48% adherence at post-test). These interactions between intervention and newly starting ART were significant
in ANCOVAs, accounting for baseline values (viral load: F=4.33, p=0.04, adherence: F=3.20, p=0.05). For this
next proposed stage of research, we will further test the Multilevel Gaming Intervention with YLWH who are
newly starting ART at clinical sites in New England and in Mississippi. A multisite randomized controlled study
(48 weeks) among 120 YLWH newly starting ART will test the efficacy of the intervention compared to a control
condition (who receive a non-HIV game and the Wisepill) on behavioral and biological measures.
Information, Motivation,
Behavioral Skills
Adherence to ART
 Immersive iPhone
 Electronic, portable, 7-day medication
 game with text
organizer/dispenser: measures adherence
messaging
 integrates into iPhone gameHIV RNA Viral Load

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10175048
- **Project number:** 5R01MH117960-04
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** James Benjamin Brock
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $694,955
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-24 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10175048

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10175048, A Multisite Randomized Trial of BattleViro: A Mobile Gaming App to Improve ART Adherence for Youth (5R01MH117960-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10175048. Licensed CC0.

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