Organization: Indlela@HE2RO , University of Pennsylvania
Study objectives:
Objective 1: To evaluate whether the B-OK bead bottle intervention strengthens participants’ mental models and understanding of HIV, ART, viral suppression, and U=U.
Objective 2: To compare the effectiveness of in-person versus video-based delivery of the B-OK intervention.
Objective 3: To assess whether the intervention improves HIV-related attitudes, treatment literacy, and intentions to initiate, remain on, or restart ART.
Intervention description:
The B-OK intervention will use coloured bead bottles as visual aids to explain HIV infection, immune system functioning, ART adherence, viral suppression, and U=U.
The bead bottles will visually represent:
- Healthy immune cells using black beads;
- The HIV virus using red beads; and
- The impact of untreated HIV versus successful ART adherence.
Participants in the intervention arms will either:
- Receive standard-of-care HIV information from a trained researcher;
- Receive an in-person demonstration from a trained researcher using the B-OK bottles; or
- Watch a standardised educational video demonstrating the use of the B-OK bottles.
The intervention will aim to simplify complex biomedical concepts and improve participants’ understanding of HIV treatment outcomes using accessible visual communication.
Evaluation description:
The study will use a three-arm randomised controlled trial design with baseline, immediate post-intervention, and six-week follow-up assessments.
Participants will complete structured surveys assessing:
- HIV and ART knowledge;
- Understanding of viral suppression and U=U;
- HIV-related attitudes and beliefs;
- Treatment intentions and motivation;
- Behavioural and psychosocial indicators.
Participants will complete the measures pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and six weeks post-intervention. Primary analyses will compare changes in outcomes across study arms using regression-based statistical approaches adjusted for baseline scores. The study will also assess participant engagement with the intervention through optional screen and video recordings collected during intervention delivery sessions.
Study site: The study will be conducted at the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE²RO) in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
Target population: Adults aged 18 years and older residing in Gauteng, recruited from Indlela’s B-Hub. Participants will include individuals of varying HIV statuses and treatment experiences.
Sample size: The study will enrol up to 600 adult participants across the three study arms.
Duration: 6 months
