Mobile Technology to Extend Clinic-based Counseling for HIV+s in Uganda
Phase: NA
Conditions: Alcohol Use, Unspecified, HIV/AIDS
Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

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Mobile technology to extend clinic-based counseling for HIV+s in Uganda (EXTEND) 
A study of the: 
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) – University of California, San Francisco 
collaboration 
Sponsored by: 
National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 
Protocol Version Number: 1.0 
Protocol Version Date: April 1, 2019 
Principal Investigator: 
 Judith Hahn, PhD, MA 
 University of California, San Francisco 
NCT03928418

 
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Table of Contents 
Study Investigators ................................................................................................................................ 3 
Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................................... 4 
1. 
Study Synopsis ............................................................................................................................... 5 
2. 
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 
2.1. 
Specific Aims........................................................................................................................................5 
3. 
Background and rationale .............................................................................................................. 6 
3.1. 
Preliminary Studies ..............................................................................................................................8 
4. 
Study design overview ................................................................................................................... 9 
4.1. 
Study setting........................................................................................................................................9 
5. 
Study Procedures ........................................................................................................................... 9 
5.1. 
Recruitment .........................................................................................................................................9 
5.2. 
Screening .............................................................................................................................................9 
5.2.1. 
Inclusion criteria .................................................................................................................................... 10 
5.2.2. 
Exclusion criteria .................................................................................................................................... 10 
5.2.3. 
Informed consent process ..................................................................................................................... 10 
5.3. 
Enrollment and randomization ........................................................................................................... 11 
5.4. 
Intervention....................................................................................................................................... 11 
5.4.1. 
Intervention delivery in Arms 1 and 2 ................................................................................................... 11 
5.4.2. 
Intervention delivery in Arm 3 ............................................................................................................... 13 
5.5. 
Study visits ........................................................................................................................................ 13 
5.6. 
Specimen collection and laboratory procedures .................................................................................. 14 
5.7. 
Measurements................................................................................................................................... 15 
5.7.1. 
Outcome variables ................................................................................................................................. 15 
5.7.2. 
Other measures ..................................................................................................................................... 15 
5.8. 
Data management ............................................................................................................................. 16 
5.9. 
Statistical analysis plan ...................................................................................................................... 16 
5.9.1. 
Primary analyses .................................................................................................................................... 16 
5.9.2. 
Additional analyses ................................................................................................................................ 16 
6. 
Safety considerations ................................................................................................................... 17 
6.1. 
Potential Risks ................................................................................................................................... 17 
6.2. 
Protection against risks ...................................................................................................................... 18 
6.3. 
Potential Benefits .............................................................................................................................. 20 
6.4. 
Data safety monitoring plan ............................................................................................................... 20 
7. 
Publication of Research Findings .................................................................................................. 21 
8. 
References ................................................................................................................................... 21 
9. 
The EXTEND RCT Informed Consent .............................................................................................. 30 
 
 
 

 
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Study Investigators 
Principal Investigator, UCSF 
Judith A. Hahn, PhD 
Professor in Residence 
Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine 
University of California, San Francisco 
550 16th Street 
San Francisco, CA 94158, USA 
Phone: 415-476-5815 
Email: judy.hahn@ucsf.edu  
 
Uganda Co-Investigator: 
Winnie Rhoda Muyindike, MMED, MBChB, PGD 
Director, ISS Clinic 
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara University of Science and Technology 
Mbarara, Uganda 
Phone: +256 772 552 619 
Email: wmuyindike@gmail.com  
 
United States Co-Investigators 
Carol Camlin, PhD, MPH 
Associate Professor  
Division of HIV, Infectious Disease & Global Medicine 
University of California, San Francisco 
995 Potrero Avenue 
San Francisco, CA 94110, USA 
Phone: 415-476-5872 
Email: carol.camlin@ucsf.edu  
 
Sarah E. Woolf-King, PhD, MPH 
Assistant Professor of Psychology, NYS Licensed Psychologist 
Department of Psychology 
Syracuse University 
510 Huntington Hall 
Syracuse, New York 13244, USA 
Phone: 315-443-9917 
Email: sewoolf@syr.edu   
  
 
 
 

 
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Glossary of Terms 
AOR 
Adjusted odds ratio 
AUDIT-C 
Alcohol use disorders identification test (alcohol screening tool to identify hazardous drinking) 
ART 
Antiretroviral therapy 
CAB 
Community advisory board 
CITI 
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative 
DBS 
Dried blood spot 
FGD 
Focus group discussion 
IDI 
Individual in-depth interview 
TrEAT/HWHL 
Trial for Early Alcohol Treatment/Healthy Women, Healthy Living 
HIV 
Human immunodeficiency virus 
ISS 
Immune Suppression Syndrome (i.e. HIV) 
IVR 
Interactive voice response 
Live booster 
Live counselor-delivered phone-based booster call 
mHealth 
Mobile health 
MUST 
Mbarara University of Science & Technology 
NIAAA 
National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 
PEth 
Phosphatidylethanol (phospholipid that can be measured in blood as a marker of prior 3 weeks’ 
drinking) 
RA 
Research assistant 
SMS 
Short message service (text message) 
SOC 
Standard of care 
SSA 
Sub-Saharan Africa 
Tech booster 
Automated two-way SMS or IVR delivered booster session 
Unhealthy  
Drinking at or above a level that increases the risk of physical or social consequences,59 defined here as 
   drinking 
AUDIT-C positive (score ≥3 for women and ≥4 for men) 
WHO 
World Health Organization 
 
 
 

 
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1. Study Synopsis 
 
 
 
Alcohol consumption is a critical predictor of poor HIV outcomes such as reduced antiretroviral adherence and 
lack of viral suppression. Reducing unhealthy alcohol use among those with HIV may improve HIV outcomes and thus is a 
high priority, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where HIV prevalence and unhealthy drinking rates are high. Multi-
session interventions that combine in-person visits with booster phone calls to reinforce the in-person counseling have 
shown good efficacy. This project aims to compare the uptake, acceptability, efficacy, and cost in reducing unhealthy 
alcohol use and increasing viral suppression in a randomized controlled trial with persons in HIV care in rural Uganda 
(n=270). The study arms are (a) in-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus live booster phone calls every 
three weeks in the interim (b) in-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus tech (choice of SMS or IVR) 
boosters once to twice weekly in the interim; and (c) standard of care (SOC) control (brief unstructured advice, with a 
wait-listed intervention). The data collection for the study will include data to determine costs related to the 
intervention and control groups. In summary, results from this RCT will inform the design of a larger trial of a low-cost 
intervention to reduce alcohol use and increase viral suppression among those with HIV in SSA.  
2. Introduction 
        Alcohol consumption is a critical predictor of poor of HIV outcomes, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where 
both are extremely common.9 Heavy alcohol use has been associated with reduced antiretroviral adherence,10 
decreased HIV suppression,11 and increased mortality among those with HIV.12,13 Thus, reducing unhealthy alcohol use 
may improve HIV outcomes and is a high priority worldwide.14 Screening and brief counseling for alcohol use, especially 
multi-session approaches, have shown evidence for reducing alcohol use in resource rich settings5 and among persons 
with HIV15-18 with few exceptions.19,20 Multi-session interventions have been efficacious among persons in SSA,17,21,22 
while those with 1-2 sessions have demonstrated mixed results.23-25 However, there are significant cost and human 
resource barriers to multiple session interventions in SSA, and it is not known whether alcohol interventions can 
improve HIV outcomes. Thus, the long-term goal of this research is to develop and test interventions to reduce alcohol 
consumption and improve HIV outcomes, that can be feasibly integrated into routine HIV care in SSA.  
 
        Multi-session interventions that combine in-person visits with booster phone calls to reinforce the in-person 
counseling have shown good efficacy.16,26 Because cell phone use in Uganda is high, phone-based booster sessions 
conducted in-between the in-person sessions (that coincide with regularly scheduled clinic visits) may be feasible. 
However, phone-based booster sessions delivered by a live counselor (“live boosters”) can be costly, time-consuming, 
limited to working hours, and dependent on good phone connections. Alternatively, automated cell phone-based 
booster sessions (“tech boosters”), can be conducted via interactive systems such as two-way Short Message Service 
(SMS, i.e. text messaging) or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) that allow for brief interactive sessions, with messages 
that are tailored to the participants’ drinking goals and gender. Such automated tailored mobile phone-based 
interventions have been successful in improving several health behaviors27-31 in diverse populations. However, the 
uptake, acceptability, cost, and efficacy of live and tech booster calls for interventions for reducing alcohol use and 
improving HIV outcomes in SSA is not known.  We hypothesize that automated mobile phone-based technology can be 
leveraged as an efficacious way to implement multi-session alcohol interventions at a low burden and cost to both 
providers and patients in low resource settings. 
 
2.1. Specific Aims 
The goal of this study is to estimate the uptake and acceptability, efficacy, and cost of methods of delivery of an 
intervention to reduce unhealthy drinking and HIV viral failure in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among persons 
in HIV care in rural Uganda (n=270). The arms will be (1) in-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus live 
booster phone calls every three weeks in the interim; (2) in-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus tech 
(choice of SMS or IVR) boosters once to twice weekly in the interim; and (3) standard of care (SOC) control (brief 
unstructured advice, with a wait-listed intervention). We will measure outcomes as follows: 
 

 
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a) Outcome 1 is the efficacy of an intervention to reduce unhealthy drinking and reduce HIV viral failure. This will be 
measured at nine months using self-report (number of drinking days in the past 21) and phosphatidylethanol (PEth), 
an alcohol biomarker, and viral suppression.  
 
b) Outcome 2 is the uptake and acceptability of an intervention to reduce unhealthy drinking and reduce HIV viral 
failure: We will examine the completion rates of the live and tech boosters, conduct post-intervention satisfaction 
surveys, and conduct qualitative interviews among a subsample of study participants (n=25-30) to determine 
acceptability and experiences with the three study arms.  
 
 
c) Outcome 3 is the estimate of the cost of the delivery methods of an intervention to reduce unhealthy drinking and 
reduce HIV viral failure: We will collect data to estimate the cost of each study arm and each mode of tech booster 
delivery to the patients and the clinic, including both start-up costs (e.g. initial fixed costs in tech system set-up) and 
maintenance costs (e.g. ongoing/recurring costs such as SMS/IVR fees, and personnel costs). 
 
This study will be conducted in a large rural Ugandan clinic where we have 10 years of collaborative alcohol/HIV 
research experience. The end products of this study will be the comparisons of key outcomes to estimate effect sizes 
and inform the design of a future large-scale trial. The long-term aim is to implement interventions that reduce alcohol 
use and improve HIV outcomes feasibly and at low cost in low resource settings.   
3. Background and rationale 
Alcohol use has a high impact on HIV transmission and outcomes. Alcohol use has been consistently associated 
with reduced ART adherence,10 with the odds of missing a dose increasing with each drink.32,33 In a longitudinal study of 
438 persons at the Immune Suppression Syndrome (ISS) HIV Clinic in Mbarara, Uganda (our proposed study site), 
unhealthy alcohol use (AUDIT-C score for women: ≥3, for men: ≥4) was the strongest independent predictor of <90% 
adherence (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-4.66) and incomplete viral suppression 
(AOR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.69–3.72).11 Alcohol use has repeatedly been associated with increased sexual risk behavior and HIV 
transmission.34-40 Approximately 25% of persons with HIV worldwide are unhealthy drinkers.41-47 Thus, unhealthy alcohol 
use is a significant barrier to suppressing HIV, and reducing unhealthy drinking is consistent with NIH HIV priorities. 
 
Multi-session in-person alcohol interventions are efficacious but not scalable.  Counseling interventions to reduce 
alcohol consumption from risky levels before more severe consequences occur have shown efficacy to reduce drinking 
by 15-30% one-year post intervention,5,48-55 and multi-session interventions have the strongest evidence of an effect on 
alcohol consumption.5 In the few alcohol intervention trials conducted in SSA, the most consistent evidence for alcohol 
intervention efficacy was for interventions delivered over 4-6 in-person sessions,17,21,22 as compared to those with one 
session,23,24 or one session followed by a booster call.25 Multi-session alcohol interventions for those with HIV conducted 
worldwide have been successful at reducing alcohol use,15-18,22 with only a few exceptions.19,20  Yet multi-session 
interventions with several in-person visits are unlikely to be scalable or cost-effective in SSA.8  
     
Cell phones may be useful for multi-session interventions. We (co-investigators Chander and Hutton) recently 
tested a multi-session alcohol intervention for women with HIV in Baltimore (the Healthy Women Healthy Living [HWHL] 
study),16 adapted from Project TrEAT (Trial for Early Alcohol Treatment) which included both men and women.26  Both 
interventions were comprised of two brief in-person sessions, separated by a month, each followed by live phone-based 
booster sessions 2-3 weeks later; both were efficacious in reducing drinking.16,26  Phone-based counseling has been 
successful in several behavior change interventions, including alcohol reduction,56 smoking cessation,57 reduction of 
depressive symptoms,58  and increasing physical  
activity,31 suggesting phones may provide an opportunity to increase the number of intervention sessions. 
      Cell phone usage has risen steadily in Africa;60 cell phone ownership in the Mbarara ISS Clinic reached 82% at the 
end of 2015, with an another 14% having access to a shared phone (W. Muyindike, personal communication). Basic cell 
phones predominate and are inexpensive in SSA (ranging from $15-$20) with low cost pay-as-you-go plans, and it is free 
to receive calls and SMS. Thus, cell phones hold promise for delivering interventions to broad populations in SSA, such as 
persons with HIV.61  
 

 
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Automated interactive (2-way) interventions also hold promise.  
    SMS Health interventions that allow for a 2-way interaction, delivered via SMS (up to 160 characters, available on 
all cell phones) or multimedia messaging service (MMS, mostly available on smart phones) have proliferated in recent 
years (albeit mostly in high-income countries62); a review of 15 systematic reviews/meta-analyses covering 89 unique 
SMS/MMS trials was recently published.28 The authors found overall positive effects on medication adherence, smoking 
cessation, diabetes management, weight loss, and physical health, although limitations to the findings were cited. A 
small number of studies have examined using SMS to reduce alcohol use.63 These studies, conducted mostly among 
university students and young adults, have shown feasibility64,65 and promising results.2,3,66-68 SMS is available on all 
phones and used by most (80%) cell phone users.60 However, the usefulness of SMS may be limited among those with 
low literacy. Reading literacy is 78% among adults in Uganda60 and 71% in our study population, thus SMS may be 
challenging for a significant fraction of the target population.  
    IVR IVR is an automated mobile phone-based platform that differs from SMS in that the participant hears rather 
than reads a message, so IVR is advantageous for those who are not literate. IVR technology allows bi-directional 
communication, similar to SMS. Participants respond to questions by pressing buttons on the phone keypad. IVR has 
been used as a way to collect daily alcohol and substance use data,69-71 and has shown promising results for alcohol 
interventions72 and for daily alcohol self-monitoring.15,73-76 A recent trial of an intervention to increase physical activity 
among older adults, found that a 2-way IVR intervention performed as well as a live phone-based counselor and 
significantly better than the control.31  Thus, IVR could be a promising mode of automated delivery of phone-based 
booster sessions in low literacy settings. 
 
Comparison of live versus automated booster calls. There are several strengths and limitations to consider for live 
versus automated interventions, including issues of network quality, message length, confidentiality, and literacy 
requirements (Table 2). While overall, analyses suggest that interventions with live counselors have better results than 
technology delivered interventions,77-80 it is not known how these modes of delivery compare for booster session 
delivery. There is high enthusiasm for technology-based interventions81 and several studies using SMS or IVR for 
improving ART adherence in SSA have been quite successful.82,83 Advantages to 2-way automated messaging (SMS or 
IVR) include flexibility in the timing of the messages, standardization, and low cost, while disadvantages include the 
limited ability to personalize and, for SMS, literacy (Table 2). Live boosters allow for a more personal experience but 
have high counselor time and cost, may depend on phone network quality, and have low flexibility in timing for the calls. 
Thus we feel that there is considerable equipoise between the methods and impetus to explore both tech and live 
booster calls, and gather preliminary data on the uptake, acceptability, effectiveness, and cost of these methods. 
 
Cost estimates for mobile technology interventions in SSA are scarce. Few studies have examined the costs 
associated with mobile phone-based interventions,28,61 via live or tech delivery, although screening and brief 
interventions have been shown to be cost effective in the primary care setting in the US.48,84,85 The preliminary cost data 
will guide short-term decisions on which interventions to include in a future larger trial, while long-term implementation 
decisions will also ultimately depend on cost.8   
 
Valid measurement of unhealthy alcohol use is needed. In trials aiming to reduce certain behaviors, self-report of 
those behaviors can be especially problematic.86-88 For example, a recent alcohol pharmacotherapy trial showed declines 
in self-reported heavy drinking days in both the treatment and the control arms, while PEth declined only in the 
treatment arm.89 The authors suggested that the control arm may have experienced an effect due to knowing that the 
intervention was to reduce alcohol (demand characteristics), and recommended using PEth in addition to self-report in 
future alcohol intervention trials.89 PEth is a phospholipid which is formed only in the presence of alcohol and thus is 
highly specific.90 PEth is the most sensitive medium-term biomarker,91 and PEth levels have been well correlated 
(Spearman’s r= 0.6-0.8) with level of consumption in controlled studies.92-95 We found that PEth was 95% sensitive and 
73% specific for detecting prior 21 day heavy drinking, and highly correlated with the number of drinking days in persons 
with HIV in Uganda95 we have subsequently used PEth to confirm suspected under-reporting in that setting.96,97  
 
 

 
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3.1. Preliminary Studies 
         Target population characteristics. We have been conducting studies of alcohol consumption among persons with 
HIV in Uganda since 2006.66,96,99-104  Self-reported current alcohol consumption among persons with HIV in Uganda 
ranges from 18% to 31%,101-103 an under-estimate based on our studies of self-report compared to PEth.96,99-101 We 
recently conducted longitudinal cohort studies of persons who reported any prior year alcohol consumption at HIV clinic 
entry (Biomarker Research of Ethanol Among Those with HIV [BREATH], R01 AA018631) and of the effect of unhealthy 
alcohol use on HIV disease progression prior to ART initiation (U01 AA020776), as part of the NIAAA Consortiums for 
HIV/AIDS Alcohol Research Translation (CHAART).7 In total, 751 persons were enrolled, 465 reported current drinking, 
and 242 reported unhealthy drinking via the AUDIT-C (≥3 for women, ≥4 for men). Among these, the level of drinking 
was high (Table 3).  
          Need for intervention. The participants in the BREATH study were followed quarterly after HIV clinic entry, to 
determine how unhealthy alcohol consumption, (AUDIT-C positive or PEth≥50 ng/ml), changed over one year. We found 
that overall, there was no change in unhealthy alcohol consumption (per-month AOR for unhealthy drinking: 1.01; 95% 
CI: 0.94-1.07). However, there was a declining trend prior to ART (per-month AOR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83-0.99) but increases 
after ART start (per-month AOR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01-1.22). This pattern of declining and then rebounding unhealthy use 
after ART initiation suggests that reductions in unhealthy alcohol use are possible, but a systematic intervention is 
needed to sustain reductions over time. These results were supported by qualitative work in the same study, in which 59 
participants participated in semi-structured interviews to examine the social, contextual, and psychological factors 
influencing attempts to change alcohol use over the year.105 Reasons to decrease alcohol consumption included threats 
to and impact on financial security, interference with fulfillment of social obligations, and threatened social standing in 
the community. Reasons for continued or resumed drinking, which will be addressed in the intervention adaptation, 
included peer pressure to drink, social inclusion, stress relief, and overall enjoyment of consuming alcohol. Motives to 
Table 1. Comparison of live versus automated phone-based counseling. Advantages highlighted and 
bolded. 
 
Live phone 
counseling 
2-way SMS 
2-way  
IVR 
Importance of reading literacy 
None 
High 
None 
Importance of technical/phone literacy 
Low 
Medium 
Low 
Air time needed to respond to messages 
No 
Yes 
No 
Dependence on phone network quality 
High 
Low 
Medium 
Limits to length of message 
None 
160 chars 
None 
Ability to verify persons answering 
High 
Need PIN  
Need PIN 
Uniformity of messages* 
Low 
High 
High 
Ability to personalize (i.e. use names) 
High 
High 
Low 
Ability to tailor messages 
High 
Medium 
Medium 
Two-way capability 
High 
Medium 
Medium 
Messages remain on phone*  
No 
Yes 
No 
Capability for participant to communicate with the 
counselor 
High 
Medium, delayed 
Medium, delayed 
Flexibility in timing of boosters 
Low 
High 
High 
Flexibility in timing of attending to the message 
Low 
High 
Medium: call back 
option 
Anticipated cost per person 
High 
Low 
Low 
*May be an advantage or a disadvantage 

 
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drink and to reduce drinking are similar to those found in other populations,106 including persons with HIV,107,108 
suggesting that interventions that were successful elsewhere can be adapted to this setting.  
          Feasibility of tech boosters for alcohol interventions. Drs. Chander and Hutton have recently adapted the 
TrEAT/HWHL intervention for digital delivery (computer-based with SMS and IVR booster sessions) among sexually 
transmitted disease clinic patients in Baltimore (R01AA018632). Initial SMS response rates (75% of participants 
responded to SMS messages not requiring a response) demonstrate high engagement. Dr. Camlin et al. recently 
developed and tested a 2-way SMS-based intervention that increased postnatal HIV clinic visits by women and their 
infants in Kenya.29 Messages were developed and piloted within a theoretical framework, via a series of FGDs and IDIs, 
using a strategy similar to that proposed here.  
4. Study design overview 
This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the uptake, acceptability, cost and efficacy in reducing 
unhealthy alcohol use and increasing viral suppression by study arm among persons in HIV care in rural Uganda (n=270). 
The RCT study arms are (a) in-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus live booster calls every 3 weeks in the 
interim, (b) in-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus tech (SMS or IVR) boosters twice weekly in the 
interim, and (c) standard of care control (brief unstructured advice, with a wait-listed intervention). We will obtain 
estimates of uptake, acceptability and cost, as well as efficacy in reducing alcohol use and decreasing viral failure for 
each study arm. We will utilize an alcohol biomarker, phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in addition to self-report in measuring 
reductions in alcohol use, and we will measure viral suppression at follow up study visits (6- and 9-month visits for PEth, 
and 9-month visits for HIV VL). The goal is to inform the design of a future large-scale trial and, ultimately, 
implementation. 
 
The trial will be conducted during a 9-month period with the intervention occurring in the first 3 months with 6 
months of follow-up. The primary outcomes will be measured 6 and 9 months post-randomization. Outcome 1 is alcohol 
use reduction measured by the number of drinking days (of prior 21) at 6 and 9 months. HIV viral suppression at 9 
months is a secondary outcome. We will also measure intervention acceptability and uptake, as well as cost, by study 
arm.  
 
4.1. Study setting 
The EXTEND study will be conducted at the Immune Suppression Syndrome (ISS) Clinic of the Mbarara Regional 
Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. The adult HIV prevalence in Southwest Uganda is 8% and heavy 
alcohol use is common while other substance use is rare. There are over 12,000 active patients at the ISS Clinic; 25% are 
current drinkers. The ISS Clinic and pharmacy use electronic medical records (EMR) that will be leveraged for patient 
recruitment, and tracking.  
5. Study Procedures 
5.1. Recruitment 
Participants will be recruited from the electronic medical records of persons attending the Mbarara ISS Clinic. The 
AUDIT-C is conducted routinely at the initial clinic visit. A clinic staff member who is also a member of the research team, 
e.g. the screener, record room staff, will initially approach those meeting these criteria. Persons meeting the initial 
eligibility criteria will be asked by the clinic staff member if they are interested in taking part in a research study. Those 
who agree will referred to the study RA to determine further eligibility criteria and provide informed consent. 
5.2. Screening  
 

 
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Participants will be recruited from the ISS clinic by a clinic staff member. This person will examine clinic records to 
identify those who are coming in for appointments who meet study criteria. Persons meeting these pre-screening 
eligibility criteria will be invited to meet with a study RA. Those who agree will be screened to determine further 
eligibility criteria by the RA. Following the screening, the RA will seek informed consent from individuals who meet the 
inclusion criteria below for further study participation. The baseline visit will include collection of tracking information, a 
baseline survey, and blood draw. Participants randomized to the intervention arms of the study will complete session 1 
of the intervention. 
5.2.1. 
Inclusion criteria 
Trial inclusion criteria include:  
a) HIV-infected adult (≥18 years) attending the Mbarara ISS Clinic; 
b) Prescribed ART for at least 6 months (confirmed via clinic records);  
c) Consume alcohol at unhealthy levels (AUDIT-C score ≥3 for women, ≥4 for men, based on the prior 3 
months);  
d) Have daily cell phone access; 
e) Fluent in Runyankole (the local language) or English; 
f) Lives within 2-hour driving distance or 60 km of the study site (Mbarara ISS Clinic) 
g) Be willing and able to agree to the study procedures. 
5.2.2. Exclusion criteria 
Exclusion criteria include:  
a) Plans to move out of the catchment area within 6 months; 
b) Participation in another research study; 
c) Unable to give informed consent. 
5.2.3. 
Informed consent process 
Informed consent process for the randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be guided by a written consent document 
but will in fact consist mainly of an interactive conversation between the research assistant and the potential study 
participant. The RA will use the informed consent document (available in Runyakole, subjected to translation, back-
translation, and revision for accuracy, clarity, and ease of comprehension) as a guide to discuss all content in the 
document with the potential participant. After each major section and any key points, the RA will pause and check for 
understanding—for example, by asking the participant to repeat back, in their own words, what “the right to refuse” 
means. The consent form is intentionally vague in order to protect the patient-subjects (i.e. it does not mention HIV or 
the ISS clinic), but that the consent discussion will cover more detailed and specific information about the study, 
including the following key points: 
• 
subjects are selected because they are HIV+, and identified as drinkers in a previous study or in clinic records 
• 
the study is about developing a technology-based intervention on alcohol use among HIV+ patients 
• 
the potential consequences of an unintentional disclosure of a participant’s HIV status because of the study 
The informed consent process for both the screening and trial will take place in a private room at the ISS Clinic or 
research offices for the EXTEND study. The RAs will meet with eligible participants selected for recruitment to introduce 
the study and gauge potential subjects’ interest. Potential participants will be told the purpose of the study and the 
reasons that they have been approached for participation. Key points to check with the participants enrolling in the trial 
include:  
(1) They will be randomized to one of three arms of the study;  
(2) They will be asked to provide their name and locator information to allow the investigators to locate  
      them for future visits;  
(3) They will be asked to bring in a support or helper person to help them with their drinking goals in the  
      intervention;  

 
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(4) They will receive a reminder call prior to their study visits; and  
(5) They may be asked to participate in further studies in the future.  
 
The research assistant will explain that all information provided to study staff will be kept strictly confidential 
and restricted from access by anyone not involved with the study operations; that all identifying information will be kept 
separate from their study data (such as the transcript and voice recording from the semi-structured interview); and that 
all study data will be kept separately from their medical chart. Participants will be informed of the randomization 
process involved in an RCT and that they will not have the opportunity to choose which arm of the study they will be 
assigned to. Subjects will be told that they may decline to participate, may refuse to discuss any topic, and may 
withdraw from the study at any time. Persons unsure about participating will be encouraged to defer enrollment. When 
a subject agrees to participate, s/he will sign the consent form drafted. Participants will be given a copy of the consent 
form. If there are literacy reasons why a signature is not appropriate, individuals will be allowed to mark consent forms 
with an X or thumb print. The consent form includes information on how to contact the study staff to report problems or 
adverse events, such as violence or other harms related to disclosure that may have occurred in the study. 
5.3. Enrollment and randomization 
Participants will be recruited from the Mbarara ISS clinic by a clinic staff member. This person will examine clinic 
records to identify those who are coming in for appointments who meet these criteria: age 18 and older, on ART for at 
least six months (a time when alcohol consumption was found to resume),80 reported alcohol use in the prior year at 
clinic entry or who reported alcohol use to research staff for other research studies being conducted at the ISS clinic. 
Persons meeting these pre-screening eligibility criteria will be invited to meet with a study RA. Those who agree will be 
screened to determine further eligibility criteria: fluency in Runyakole, living within two hours travel time from the clinic, 
owning or having daily access to a cell phone, and screening positive on the AUDIT-C. Although men are more likely than 
women to drink alcohol in Uganda,124 two thirds of the ISS Clinic patients are women,103 thus we expect 50% of 
participants to be women, as in our recent study of current drinkers at the ISS Clinic.80 Of the 200 adult patients seen per 
day, 95% are on ART, and 25% report any prior year alcohol use at clinic entry. Based on our experience, we expect that 
85% will accept screening, 95% will speak the appropriate language, 70% will live within two hours travel time of the 
clinic, 50% will test AUDIT-C positive, 85% will have cell phone access, and 80% will accept study enrollment. Thus, there 
will be at least 9 eligible persons per day. Due to clinic space limitations, it is very feasible to enroll 1-2 persons per day.  
 
After eligibility is determined, we will enroll and randomize participants, to one of the three study arms, as follows:  
• 
Arm 1: In-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus live booster phone calls every three weeks in the 
interim;  
• 
Arm 2: In-person counseling during 2 quarterly clinic visits plus tech (choice of SMS or IVR) boosters once to 
twice weekly in the interim;  
• 
Arm 3: Standard of Care (SOC) control (brief unstructured advice with wait-listed intervention). 
 
Randomization will be 1:1:1 and will be conducted by the study coordinator and the data manager (to keep the RAs 
blinded) using pre-printed scratch cards revealing the randomization arm, in blocks of 10 to spread out the burden of 
the live boosters. Those randomized to Arms 1 or 2 will be referred to the study counselor for in-person counseling and 
training on the booster modes. Those randomized to Arm 3 will have no contact with the study counselor. 
5.4. Intervention 
5.4.1. 
Intervention delivery in Arms 1 and 2 
 
The in-person counseling using the EXTEND study workbook, the live phone call boosters, and training in the use 
of the tech boosters will be delivered by a counselor trained in HIV/AIDS counseling (Uganda Ministry of Health) after 
the baseline survey and blood draw. The EXTEND study workbook, which was adapted to the Ugandan local context 
from the TrEAT/HWHL intervention by the EXTEND study team, will serve as a scripted guide for the in-person 
counseling session. The counselor will be trained by Dr. Woolf-King in techniques to conduct the alcohol counseling 

 
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12
sessions; training will include mock counseling sessions. While this is not an MI intervention, Dr. Woolf-King’s experience 
and training in Motivational Interviewing will be useful in the motivation component of the intervention. The in-person 
sessions will be audio-recorded and 15% will be reviewed by the Ugandan project coordinator for fidelity, using a check-
list of intervention components as in previous alcohol intervention trials.23,125   
 
Participation of support person/helper: Part of the study intervention involves asking study participants whether 
they can identify a support person or helper, to help support them with their drinking goals. Participants in the 
intervention arms (Arms 1 and 2) will be asked to identify a support person or helper who is a friend or relative who can 
support them with their drinking goals. If there is someone they can call on to be a helper, we will ask them to bring 
them in to participate in their second in-person counseling session. The person identified will be given some information 
by the counselor to guide them in supporting the participant. 
       
For those in the live phone call booster arm, the counselor will schedule the first live booster call and make a 
test call to the participant’s phone. During the intervention period, the counselor will try to reach the participant 3 times 
for each booster session, at different times of day or evening, and will try to reach up to 3 of the participants’ contacts 
as needed. The counselor will use the script for the call (see appendix), complete a check-list of the script components, 
and record all attempted and completed calls in a database designed for this purpose.  
 
      
 For those in the technology booster arm, the counselor will obtain information for the tailoring variables during 
the in-person session, and will enter them into the technology program interface. The counselor will engage in 
demonstrations of the SMS and IVR boosters and a discussion of the pros and cons of each, to help participants decide 
which they prefer, based on their level of literacy, need for confidentiality, and other considerations. After the choice is 
made, the counselor will provide further training on using SMS or IVR, entering a PIN# to obtain the messages, and 
responding to the questions. As was effective in increasing engagement in previous tech interventions,126 the counselor 
will send a test SMS or IVR message to Arm 2 participants and watch them enter the PIN# and access and respond to the 
message, assisting and sending another message as needed. The counselor will also show those choosing SMS how to 
delete the SMS from their phones after the session. The data manager will monitor SMS/IVR session completion; if there 
is a 3-week interval with no tech booster session interaction, the data manager will alert the counselor who will call the 
participant and his/her contacts to verify if the cell phone number is still correct. Participants in both booster arms will 
receive reminders before they are due for their 2nd in-person counseling session, which will be scheduled to coincide 
with their next clinic visit.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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13
5.4.2. 
Intervention delivery in Arm 3 
 
Participants randomized to Arm 3 (SOC) will have no contact with the study counselor for the duration of the trail (9 
months). However, at their 9-month study visit, and at the end of their study participation as randomized, they will be 
offered the intervention and given a choice of the delivery method for the booster sessions. Although the study 
counselor will deliver the intervention at this time point, we will not collect intervention data associated with this group. 
 
Table 2. RCT study visit and intervention schedule 
Month 0 
Study enrollment, baseline questionnaire, DBS collection, and randomization 
Arm 1: In-person counseling 
plus live booster (n=90) 
Arm 2: In-person counseling 
plus tech booster (n=90) 
Arm 3: SOC control 
(n=90) 
In-person counseling session 
In-person counseling + tech 
training 
Standard care 
Months 1-3 
Live booster  
(every 3 weeks over 12 
weeks) 
Tech booster  
(1X to 2x/week over 12 weeks)  
--- 
Month 3 
In-person counseling session 
In-person counseling session 
Standard care 
Month 3-4 
One third of a subset (n=8-12 per arm): qualitative semi-structured post-intervention interview 
Month 5 
Phone call reminder to attend 6-month study visit 
Month 6 
Follow-up survey, DBS collection  
Two thirds of a subset (n=8-12 per arm): qualitative semi-structured post-intervention interview 
Month 8 
Phone call reminder to attend 9-month study visit 
Month 9 
Follow-up survey, DBS collection 
Follow-up survey, DBS 
collection 
Follow-up survey, DBS 
collection 
Alcohol intervention 
offered  
 
 
 
 
5.5. Study visits  
 
Baseline survey and randomization: All participants will undergo collection of contact information, a 30-minute 
baseline survey, and collection of blood spots for PEth and HIV viral load testing. After these activities, randomization 
will be conducted by the study coordinator (to keep the RAs blinded) using previously prepared sealed envelopes, in 
blocks of 9 to spread out the burden of the live boosters. Those randomized to Arms 1 or 2 will be referred to the study 
counselor for in-person counseling and training on the booster modes. Those randomized to Arm 3 will have no contact 
with the study counselor. 
 
 
Six-month follow-up visit. Six months after baseline, we will conduct DBS collection and a quantitative survey, 
measuring alcohol consumption, and domain characteristics (Table 3).  
 
 
Nine-month follow-up visit. Nine months after baseline, we will conduct DBS collection and a quantitative 
survey, measuring alcohol consumption, intervention usability and satisfaction, social desirability, and domain 
characteristics (Table 3). After data and specimen collection, those in the control arm will be offered the intervention, 
and will be allowed to choose their preferred method of booster delivery. We will also conduct IDIs with 8-12 
participants per study arm. These participants will be selected using the a priori categories, with roughly equal numbers 
of those receiving boosters by SMS and by IVR within Arm 2. The aim of the IDIs will be to explore acceptability and 
experiences with all three study arms, including the two modes of tech delivery. These interviews will be coded and 
analyzed using the methods described below (statistical analysis plan).  
Individual in-depth interviews at 3-6 months: Following participation in the intervention phase of the trial, a 
select number of participants (8-12 per study arm) will be invited to participate in a follow-up one-on-one, semi-structured 
qualitative interview with a research assistant. One third of these participants will participate in the qualitative interview 

 
EXTEND RCT Protocol Version 1.0: April 1, 2019 
14
within 0-1 month post intervention, i.e., between month-3 and month-4 from their baseline study visit. The remaining 
two thirds of the participants selected to participate in the post-intervention qualitative interviews will participate at 3 
months post intervention, i.e., at month-6, which is 6 months from their baseline study visit. The 1/3 group will offer more 
insights on intervention experiences as recall will be fresher, and the latter 2/3 group will be able to help us understand 
longer term impacts and the multiple factors that influence outcomes (including but not limited to intervention). 
The research assistant will ask them about their experience with and perceptions of the trial as well as the different 
components of the intervention. The interview will last about 60 minutes and will take place either at a private 
location. We will audio-tape the individual interview and the recordings will be transcribed. The recordings will be 
transferred to a computer where they will be secured by a password, and the recordings will be destroyed following 
transcription. 
 
Retention: We have had 90% six-month retention in our previous studies in this setting.7 As in the past, we will 
collect contact information such as cell phone numbers of participants and their friends and family that will be stored in 
a database that generates automated tracking reports and lists. We will obtain permission to access the participants’ 
medical records to determine the date of their next clinic appointments, and their charts will be flagged so that the RAs 
will be notified when they come to the clinic so they may receive the study visit. We will provide air time to clinic staff so 
they can call us if a participant returns to clinic. Follow-up tracking will be conducted by phone calls and home visits (if 
other methods fail) to participants and their contacts. The RA will call participants at month five to remind them to 
attend the 6-month study appointment.  
 
Table 3. Quantitative survey variables 
Domain 
Base-line 
6 
Months 
9 
Months 
Individual variables 
Demographics 
X 
 
 
Age, sex, religion, household assets (as a measure of SES),130 occupation 
Health 
X 
X 
X 
Medical Outcomes Study-HIV scale for quality of life and overall physical 
and mental health functioning,131-135 body mass index, ART adherence 
Single Item Rating Scale.136,137 From Clinic: CD4 cell count, ART status, 
and MUST pharmacy pill count. 
Literacy, cell  
phone use 
X 
 
 
Ability to read this sentence when shown (“Please read this sentence out 
loud”), hours phone turned on and charged, SMS use, phone sharing 
Alcohol use 
X 
X 
X 
AUDIT-C, drinking patterns, beverage-specific typical and maximum 
drinking,138 3 week timeline follow-back139 
Psychosocial 
variables/scales 
X 
 
X 
Social support,140 HIV stigma,141 Center for Epidemiologic Studies 
Depression Scale (16 items),142 Stages of Change Treatment Eagerness 
Scale (19 items),143 Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (11 items, 
baseline and follow-up)144 
Intervention 
characteristics 
 
 
X 
Client Satisfaction Scale-8 (8 items)145, System Usability Scale (10 
items)146,147 Perceived Awareness of the Research Hypothesis Scale 
(demand characteristics; 4 items)148  
 
 
5.6. Specimen collection and laboratory procedures 
DBS collection and testing. DBS collection will occur at the baseline, 6-month, and 9-month study visits. Six 50 µl 
drops of blood will be collected onto two Whatman 903 filter papers (3 spots each), which will be allowed to dry for ≥24 
hours, and then stored packaged with a desiccant in a -80C freezer at the MUST laboratory.127  
Viral suppression: Plasma HIV viral load will be measured at baseline and 9 months using the Cepheid Xpert HIV-1 
RNA assay, run on an existing GeneXpert platform in Mbarara, Uganda, that has been in use for our ongoing trials.  
 PEth levels: The DBS card will be tested for PEth level at  the United States Drug Testing Laboratories using liquid 
chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) as described.129 We will obtain a Materials Transfer 
Agreement to ship the DBS to the U.S.; no laboratories in Africa conduct this test. 

 
EXTEND RCT Protocol Version 1.0: April 1, 2019 
15
 
 
 
5.7. Measurements 
5.7.1. 
Outcome variables  
 
Efficacy analyses Outcome variables The primary outcome variable will be the number of days drinking (prior 3 
weeks, TLFB) at 6 and 9 months. We chose this variable because (a) days drinking was the main outcome in the HWHL 
trial,16 (b) of several self-reported drinking variables, the number of drinking days was most highly correlated (Spearman 
r=0.74) with PEth level in a validation study in Uganda,95 and (c) this variable may also be the least susceptible to bias 
because it does not require reporting the number of drinks, which can be challenging where non-standard drinks are 
common.9 We will use PEth level as an objective measure of prior 21-day alcohol use to confirm the findings obtained 
using self-report. Another main outcome variable will be HIV viral suppression at 9 months. Secondary outcomes will 
include the AUDIT-C score, which was associated with increased mortality in HIV-infected drinkers,13 and the number of 
heavy drinking days (≥4/≥5 drinks per occasion by females/males, respectively), the standard measure for 
pharmacotherapy trials. Other exploratory outcomes will include CD4 cell count and ART adherence.  
 
Booster uptake and satisfaction Outcome variables Tech booster uptake will be measured from data extracted 
from the technology databases that record the SMS and IVR interactions. Uptake will be the proportion of sessions in 
which the participant answered all the questions prior to the final sign-off message; the denominator for this will be the 
number of tech booster sessions initiated by the system. Live booster call uptake will be tabulated from the counselor’s 
call record forms that will be entered weekly into the study database. We will also determine the proportion of 
participants who request a counselor call back. We will also calculate intervention satisfaction in each arm using the 
Client Satisfaction Scale-8.145 Among those in the tech booster arm (Arm 2), we will calculate usability via the System 
Usability Scale, used to evaluate new technology,146,147 and the proportions that chose SMS over IVR, overall and by 
reading literacy (yes/no).  
 
Independent variables The predictor variable will be study arm by month (6 or 9 months). 
  
5.7.2. 
Other measures  
 
Cost methodology To determine costs, we will collect data to capture all relevant direct (e.g. equipment) and 
indirect (e.g. administrative), fixed (or ‘start-up’) and variable (or ‘recurring’) costs related to the intervention and 
control groups (Table 4). Costs will be differentiated by intervention component (e.g. clinic-based counseling versus 
remote booster sessions) and by booster session mode of delivery (i.e. live booster versus tech booster, and between 
SMS and IVR tech boosters). The data collection for costs and the analyses will be conducted using Excel-based 
worksheets previously developed by Mr. Kevany and UCSF teams for related settings.155,156 The Ugandan project 
coordinator will collect these costs in years 2-4 with consultation from Mr. Kevany. We will estimate the marginal cost 
per unhealthy drinker (i.e. the change in the total cost of the intervention when one additional person is added to the 
program), overall and by study arm.  
 
Table 4. Cost data collection 
Cost category 
Description 
Source  
Personnel – Ongoing 
Personnel needed to conduct the in-person counseling, the live and tech 
boosters, to train patients to receive and respond to the tech boosters, to 
respond to queries by patients receiving the tech boosters, and to enter new 
patients and their information into the tech booster system. 
MUST contracts 
and grants office 
Personnel – Start up 
Personnel needed to set up the tech booster system 
As above 
Space  -- Ongoing 
Space needed at the ISS clinic for each intervention arm  
ISS Clinic  
Equipment/services – 
Start up 
Cell phones, computer and internet needed for setting up and maintaining 
the tech booster system, tech booster call costs, air time reimbursement, 
MUST contracts and 
grants office  

 
EXTEND RCT Protocol Version 1.0: April 1, 2019 
16
 
5.8. Data management 
 
We will build on our previous data collection, tracking, and specimen bar-coding systems used in Uganda. The 
surveys will be RA-administered using the RedCap program for offline data collection on laptop computers. The field 
coordinator will observe 10% of the quantitative surveys and qualitative IDIs to assure that data are being collected in a 
systematic, unbiased method. The electronic data will be uploaded daily and monitored by the UCSF statistician who will 
check all data for completeness and range monthly. Discrepancies will be investigated and resolved by the UCSF 
statistician and the Uganda data manager. 
 
5.9. Statistical analysis plan  
The analyses below will provide effect sizes to inform a future large-scale trial. 
5.9.1. 
Primary analyses 
Efficacy analyses 
 
The analysis  for primary outcome variable 1 (alcohol reduction) will measure the number of drinking days (of 
the prior 21) at six months and nine months, in pairwise comparisons of the study arms, controlling for baseline days 
drinking (of the prior 21).149 The analyses will be conducted as intention-to-treat, and we will use Poisson or negative 
binomial regression for the count data, i.e. the number of drinking days at 6 and 9 months, controlling for baseline days 
drinking. The PEth level will be transformed to log10 PEth before analyses, based on PEth’s highly skewed distribution 
and we will use linear regression for this outcome.  
 
The analysis for primary outcome variable 2 (HIV viral suppression) will use logistic regression to compare the 
proportions with viral load<500 copies/ml, controlling for baseline viral load. We will adjust these analyses for baseline 
characteristics that exhibit imbalance between groups (based on a p-value ≤0.1 in comparisons of potential confounders 
listed in Table 3).  
 
Secondary outcomes: Other exploratory outcomes will include CD4 cell count and ART adherence. 
 
 
Missing data We will evaluate differences in baseline characteristics between those lost to follow-up versus 
those who are retained.152 If it is reasonable to assume that data are missing at random, multiple imputation methods 
will be applied to account for the missing data.152,153 We will also consider pattern mixture models,154 which are 
applicable when the data are missing not at random.  
 
 
 
Statistical power: With a sample size of 90 in each arm, assuming 90% 9-month retention, using a simplifying t-
test for power calculations, we will have 80% power to detect a difference in the number of drinking days in the prior 21 
between two study arms at nine months of ≥2.4 days, i.e. nearly 1 fewer day per week, as statistically significant 
(α=0.05) assuming that the mean number of drinking days in the prior 21 in the control group is 7 (standard deviation is 
5.5, based on prior data). Given that this is a pilot study we will not adjust for multiple comparisons. 
 
Booster uptake and satisfaction analyses 
Analyses We will calculate 95% confidence intervals for the outcomes listed above. We will conduct preliminary 
tests of whether the mean completion proportions and satisfaction scores differ by booster arm (live versus tech) by 
conducting 2-sample tests (t-test or Mann-Whitney). 
Statistical power We will have 80% power to detect a difference of completion proportion of 11% or greater if the 
mean completion in one group is 50%. Power will be greater for mean proportions completing closer to 1. 
 
 
5.9.2.  Additional analyses 
internet time, office supplies, furniture, data storage.    
Organizational  
Costs of meetings and trainings conducted in the clinic 
ISS Clinic  
Client time 
Client time for receiving in-person components of intervention, plus training 
on the 2-way tech boosters  
Counselor records 

 
EXTEND RCT Protocol Version 1.0: April 1, 2019 
17
 
Exploratory analyses will examine the exposure to the boosters, in an as-treated analysis. For example, within 
the tech arm, we may examine whether the number of completed booster sessions is associated with the number 
drinking days in the prior 21, at six and nine months. Because these are non-randomized exposures, we will explore 
using propensity score analyses150 to attempt to balance the groups. We will also examine effect moderation by 
variables found to impact intervention efficacy, such as gender and depression151 and by literacy.  
 
 
PEth versus self-report We will consider findings that are concordant by self-report and PEth (i.e. both analyses 
statistically significant or both not reaching statistical significance) to be conclusive. If the findings are discordant, we will 
examine the pattern of SDS scores and demand characteristics (Table 3). We found in our previous studies that, after 
controlling for PEth level, adjusted SDS means were 0.88 points lower (p<0.01) for those reporting versus those denying 
recent unhealthy alcohol use, while PEth levels were not associated with SDS (p=0.28, unpublished analyses).  We will 
conclude in favor of the PEth results if the patterns are consistent with under-report (i.e. associations of higher SDS and 
demand scores with lower self-reported alcohol use at the same PEth level, suggesting under-reporting).  
 
 
 
Missing data We will evaluate differences in baseline characteristics between those lost to follow-up versus 
those who are retained.152 If it is reasonable to assume that data are missing at random, multiple imputation methods 
will be applied to account for the missing data.152,153 We will also consider pattern mixture models,154 which are 
applicable when the data are missing not at random.  
6. Safety considerations 
6.1. Potential Risks 
Potential risks to participants, and their likelihood and seriousness to the human subjects: The main risk of 
participating in this study is the loss of confidentiality. While many participants may have disclosed their HIV status to 
their family, we consider loss of confidentiality an important risk of the study. The loss of confidentiality may lead to 
disclosure of HIV infection or disclosure of drinking status. Stigma associated with such disclosure may include social 
harms such as disruption of family (e.g., breakup of couples following HIV detection in one spouse), discrimination (e.g., 
a loss of employment or status in community), physical harm such as domestic violence (e.g., acts of physical violence 
directed at people who have been diagnosed with HIV), and psychological harm such as embarrassment (e.g., being 
questioned by family members about alcohol use). There may be some discomfort with the nature of the interviews, 
since alcohol use will be discussed. There is also the very slight but present chance of a breach of confidentiality inherent 
in any study that handles confidential data. 
 
Other potential risks of participating in the study include: 
• 
Psychological stress could be caused by the interview in which participants will be asked sensitive questions 
regarding substance use and HIV status and progression. Distress caused by the length of the interview is also 
possible. 
• 
Phlebotomy associated risks include bruising, bleeding, infection, phlebitis, and pain. Bruising is common, minor 
pain with needlestick is universal, the other risks are rare.  
• 
Biohazard containment is an additional risk, as the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens can 
occur through contact with contaminated needles, blood, and blood products. 
• 
There is a risk of a 3rd party (including makers of the computer software and others) intercepting both research 
and non-research data. 
• 
There is a risk of additional costs to cell phone usage for participants that are not anticipated. 
Alternative procedures: The alternative is to either not consent to the study or to withdraw from the study at any 
time after consented. We will be clear with participants that there is no obligation to enroll in or continue with the 
study. Any participant may decline any study procedure at any time—this will not affect the person’s ability to receive 

 
EXTEND RCT Protocol Version 1.0: April 1, 2019 
18
care at any HIV clinic. Any potential study participant who does not wish to enroll in the study but wishes to learn more 
about their alcohol consumption will be referred to their doctor.   
6.2. Protection against risks 
 
Planned procedure for protection from risks due to loss of confidentiality: We will implement the following procedures 
to protect participants against the risks of loss of confidentiality: 
• 
We will discuss the possibility of HIV, or alcohol-related stigma with the potential participants during the 
informed consent process for the study. We will ask potential participants to think about persons in their family, 
group of friends, neighborhood, or workplace, who don’t know their HIV status, and how they might react to 
discovering that the participant is infected with HIV, or drinks alcohol. Enrollment will be deferred for those who 
are unsure about ramifications of participating. Persons who decline or defer enrollment in the study will be 
assured that this will not affect their HIV care. 
• 
We will ensure that all study visits and telephone calls for tracking or study visit reminders, may be deferred for 
any reason and that participation in the study may be ended at any time. Telephone calls may be ended at any 
time with a pre-agreed upon word or action. Study staff will be trained to apply the same measures of 
confidentiality and sensitivity during phone calls as they do with all other data collection activities. 
• 
We will provide referrals to all participants and persons considering enrollment to social support services 
provided by the MRRH Counseling Program, as desired. These services include the option of participating in 
support groups where issues of disclosure can be discussed, and the individual can learn from peers about high-
risk disclosure situations and how to minimize risk. 
• 
To ensure confidentiality of participation, all instruments, forms, and biologic specimens will be coded with a 
unique participant identifier that renders the data anonymous to persons outside the study. All data will be kept 
in locked cabinets and on secure servers. Research records will be kept confidential to the level allowed by law. 
Records with identifying information, such as contact information and consent forms, will be stored separately 
from survey information. No individual identities will be used in any reports or publications. 
• 
All staff in contact with participants and/or data will be trained on procedures for maintaining privacy and will 
sign a pledge of confidentiality. They will also take the NIH online human subjects training courses. 
• 
We will provide participants with a small card containing information on how to contact the local field staff to 
report incidents such as HIV-related disruption of families, acts of discrimination, and physical harm. These cards 
will not identify the study as a study of alcohol use, or of persons with HIV. This information will also be written 
on the take-home consent form. 
• 
Study activities will be conducted in English or Runyakole (the local language) in the language that the 
participant feels most comfortable with.  
Planned procedure for protection from risks due to psychological distress: The RAs will be trained to address these 
issues with a calm, non-judgmental attitude. Study activities will be conducted in English or Runyakole (the local 
language) in the language that the participant feels most comfortable with. At the participants' request, we will refer 
patients for medical alcohol detoxification and support groups conducted by the Department of Psychiatry at MUST. 
These referrals are a standard part of care at the ISS clinic. These minimal risks are not likely and will be minimized 
further by only selecting participants who understand the study and are willing to participate.  
Planned procedure for protection from risks due to phlebotomy: Trained RAs or laboratory technicians will collect all 
specimens using standard sterile procedures. The phlebotomist will report any complications resulting from blood draws 
to the field study coordinator, who will make an immediate report to the Principal Investigator. The Principal 
Investigator will take responsibility for reporting such AEs to the relevant IRBs and NIH within ten days. 
  
Planned procedure for protection from risks due to lack of biohazard containment: As the transmission of HIV and 
other blood-borne pathogens can occur through contact with contaminated needles, blood, and blood products, 
appropriate blood and secretion precautions will be employed by all personnel in the drawing of blood and shipping and 

 
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19
handling of all specimens for this study, as currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
and the NIH. Personnel will be trained in and follow standard laboratory procedures to minimize the risk of 
contamination. 
Planned procedure for protection from risks due to 3rd party intercepting participant's data: We plan to institute the 
following data security controls that prevent interception of information issues as follows:  
• 
The cell phone data will be kept only by cell phone number and unique study identifier that renders the data 
anonymous to persons outside the study. All SMS/IVR messages will require authentication codes for 
access. The web-based databases will be password protected and encrypted. All data transfers to servers at 
UCSF or MUST will occur via an encrypted internet connection and data will be stored on secure UCSF servers 
that are password-protected and encrypted. 
• 
We plan to institute the following data security controls in general:  
o 
Data storage safety: The SMS/IVR data (accessed only with an authentication code) will be stored 
temporarily on participant's phones until the participant deletes them. The SMS/IVR data will also be 
stored temporarily on secure, password-protected and encrypted web-based databases until they are 
transmitted to our research team at UCSF. All servers storing EXTEND study data will be encrypted. Thus, 
all data transfers of study data, from Uganda to servers at UCSF, will occur via this encrypted internet 
connection, and data will be stored on secure UCSF servers that are also password-protected and 
encrypted. Once transmitted, data will be stored via secure, password protected, and encrypted files, 
identified only by the study ID, on a password protected network computer at the research study offices 
at UCSF. All data transfers to servers at UCSF will occur via an encrypted internet connection and data 
will be stored on secure UCSF servers that are password-protected and encrypted. 
o 
All data transfers to servers at UCSF will occur via an encrypted internet connection and data will be 
stored on secure UCSF servers that are password-protected and encrypted. 
o 
UCSF IT risk assessment and data safety measures:  We will have a contract with any entity engaged in 
implementing our research study prior to commencing their services. The contracts will include Terms of 
Agreement and/or Privacy Policy to be reviewed by the UCSF IT department as well as the UCSF 
contracts and grants offices. These offices will continue to review updates of the agreement as needed. 
We will defer to the MUST IRB in Uganda on determining how the study participants will be informed 
that the data is subject to the set terms of agreement, which may change over time. However, we will 
address these issues broadly in the informed consent process. 
o 
Data will not be shared including contacts, texts, geo-location information, photos or other data from 
any of the devices used during our research study by the research team or by the study 
participants, with 3rd parties in both Uganda and the United States. 
o 
We will discuss the risks to confidentiality in engaging in SMS/IVR system in the informed consent 
processes and again during SMS/IVR training with participants. The SMS/IVR system will include 
authentication codes (PIN#s) so that only the intended participant will access the SMS/IVR messages. In 
addition, we will train participants to delete the SMS at the end of each session so they cannot be 
viewed by others using the phone. We will not identify the study as associated with the HIV clinic in any 
message. The cell phone data will be kept only by cell phone number and unique study identifier that 
renders the data anonymous to persons outside the study. All data transfers to servers at UCSF or MUST 
will occur via an encrypted internet connection and data will be stored on secure UCSF servers that are 
password-protected and encrypted. 
Planned procedure for protection from risks due to additional costs to participant's cell phone use: We do not 
anticipate that participants will incur additional costs in cell phone charges as a result of our study. It is free to receive 
calls and SMS messages on Ugandan phones, thus the IVR sessions will be free, and participants can receive calls and 
SMS messages even if the phone has no “air time” (pre-loaded credit). The SMS sessions will require a small amount of 
air time to enable participants to send answers to the SMS questions, but we will automatically load (“top up”) 

 
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20
participants’ phones with air time before SMS sessions. The expected value of the cell phone credit will not exceed the 
expected cost of the SMS charges and will occur at the time of use so as not to be viewed as coercive. Our technology 
platform will be programmed to receive free text replies from participants via SMS, or a voice message from participants 
(as an MP3 file) via IVR, allowing for open-ended questions and responses. In addition, participants will be trained to 
'flash' (calling a phone number and disconnecting the call before it is answered at no cost) the study staff if they need to 
reach them. Following a flashed call, the study staff will call participants back at no additional cost to the participant. 
Flashing is common practice in Uganda and will be utilized by the study participants as needed to reach study staff while 
in the study. These minimal risks are not likely and will be minimized further by only selecting patients who understand 
the study and are willing to participate.   
6.3. Potential Benefits  
Participants may benefit from a positive health outcome associated with a reduction in unhealthy alcohol use. 
Improved health due to lifestyle changes and/or knowledge gained about health and health conditions may occur as a 
result of participation. Closer follow-up than standard of care may lead to improved outcomes or patient engagement. 
Collateral benefits include receipt of refreshments, transportation reimbursements, and the receipt of results from 
laboratory tests (CD4 cell counts, HIV viral load). PEth biomarker results will not be disclosed to participants due to the 
lag in testing and the non-routine nature of this test in this population. Otherwise, participants are not promised any 
direct benefit. The risks to the participants are minimal in relation to the anticipated benefits to the participants and the 
results of this study could benefit both HIV and alcohol treatment and medical services in Uganda and worldwide.   
6.4. Data safety monitoring plan  
Day to day data and safety monitoring will be the responsibility of the Principal Investigator. We will follow 
guidelines set forth by the UCSF IRB regarding AEs. AEs will be reported to the IRBs within 10 days of awareness of the 
AE. Serious adverse events (SAEs) will also be reported to the NIH and will be reported to the IRBs and the NIH within 2 
days.  
 
AEs will be monitored for each subject participating in the study and attributed to the study intervention by the 
Principal Investigator with review by the physicians/co-investigators according to the following categories: 
1. Definite: Adverse event is clearly related to the intervention. 
2. Probable: Adverse event is likely related to the intervention. 
3. Possible: Adverse event may be related to the intervention. 
4. Unlikely: Adverse event is likely not to be related to the intervention. 
5. Unrelated: Adverse event is clearly not related to the intervention. 
 
The following scale will be used in grading the severity of adverse events noted during the study: 
1. Mild adverse event 
2. Moderate adverse event 
3. Severe adverse event 
 
In addition to grading the AE, the Principal Investigator will determine whether the AE meets the criteria for a SAE. 
An AE is considered serious if it: 
1. is life-threatening 
2. results in in-patient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization 
3. results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity 
4. results in a congenital anomaly or birth defect 
5. results in death 
6. may jeopardize the subject’s health and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the 
other outcomes listed in this definition, based upon appropriate medical judgment, or 
7. adversely affects the risk/benefit ratio of the study 
 

 
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An AE may be graded as severe but still not meet the criteria for a SAE. Similarly, an AE may be graded as moderate 
but meet the criteria for a SAE. The Principal Investigator and the study physicians/co-investigators will determine the 
grade of the event as well as its “seriousness.” 
 
Risk assessment  
Participation in the EXTEND Study may present minimal risks, including social harm due to loss of confidentiality, 
disruption of family (e.g., breakup of couples following HIV detection), discrimination (e.g., loss of employment or status 
in community), physical harm (e.g., acts of physical violence directed at people who have been disclosed as HIV-infected) 
and embarrassment (e.g., being questioned about alcohol use). Should any of these or other incidents occur, the on-site 
Field Coordinators will immediately report them to the Principal Investigator, who will in turn report them to the 
appropriate IRB(s) and to the NIH within ten days of learning of the incident, and notify all study co-investigators. We 
will ask study participants to return to the research field site as well as provide participants with a palm card containing 
information on how to contact the local field staff to report such incidents.  
The Field Coordinators will be trained to complete descriptions of AEs on an AE reporting form that will then be sent 
electronically to the US PI. The PI will also report any instances where a US or international IRB takes any action relating 
to the study. The PIs will make at least two site visits per year to inspect the quality assurance protocol and to review 
study procedures, including recruitment and data collection.  
 
Interim analyses   
No interim efficacy or futility analyses are planned, however, the study team, including the project directors, 
statistician, co-investigators, field coordinators, and RAs, led by the Principal Investigators, will monitor the progress of 
the study, participant recruitment, accrual and retention at twice monthly conference call meetings. They will also 
examine factors external to the study when interpreting the data, such as scientific developments or the new availability 
of information that could impact the safety of the participants, the performance of the study, or the ethics of the study.  
 
Data Management and Security to Protect Privacy 
UCSF, in collaboration with the MUST data management teams, will ensure high quality forms, monitor data quality, 
and track and link the multiple data sources. The team will jointly develop data collection forms, design the database 
management system for data entered and for participant tracking, implement procedures for quality control, and 
provide statistical programming and collaborate in report writing and presentation of study results. 
Electronic data will be collected using password-protected laptop computers. The data team will design, develop 
and maintain the electronic data collection forms, participant and data tracking, and underlying SQL database systems, 
and implement procedures for data quality control, including multiple checks for entered data. Electronic data collection 
forms will be designed to read easily, have clear instructions, preprogrammed skip patterns, real-time range checks and 
internal logic to minimize missing data and resulting in “cleaner” data at capture. The databases will be located on 
secure, password-protected servers in Uganda and the US.  
7. Publication of Research Findings 
The findings from this study may be published in a medical journal. No individual identities will be used in any 
reports or publications resulting from the study. The researchers will publish results of the study in accordance with NIH, 
UCSF, UNCST, and MUST guidelines. 
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9. The EXTEND RCT Informed Consent 
 
MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE 
P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda 
Tel: 256-4854-33795  Fax:  256 4854  20782 
Email:  irc@must.ac.ug mustirb@gmail.com 
Web site : www.must.ac.ug 
 
INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENT for RCT participants 
 
Study Title: Mobil technology to extend clinic-based counseling for HIV+s in Uganda (The EXTEND study) 
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Judith Hahn, Dr. Winnie Muyindike. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
What you should know about this study: 
You are being asked to join a research study.  
• 
This consent form explains the research study and your part in the study.  
• 
Please review it carefully and take as much time as you need.  
• 
You are a volunteer. You can choose not to take part and if you join, you may quit at any time. There will 
be no penalty if you decide to quit the study. 
• 
After this consent form is read to you, and your questions have been answered, we will ask if you want to 
be in the study. If you agree, we will ask you to sign this consent form. You will get a copy of this form to 
keep.  
 
Brief background to the study: 
Unhealthy alcohol use is a significant barrier to suppressing HIV. About one out of every 4 persons with HIV in 
the world is an unhealthy drinker and interventions are needed. Multi-session counseling can be effective in 
reducing unhealthy drinking. This study will test an intervention of multi-session counseling delivered in-
person, followed by either a live person phone call or phone text and voice messages, to reduce unhealthy 
alcohol use. 
 
Purpose of the research project:  
The goal of this study is to test a brief alcohol intervention to reduce unhealthy drinking among persons with 
HIV in Uganda. The intervention is composed of an initial in-person counseling session followed by booster 
sessions delivered by cell phone voice and text messages. The study is being conducted by researchers at the 
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the University of California San Francisco 
(UCSF) in the United States. 
Approximately 270 people will participate in this randomized controlled trial (RCT). After you have completed 
the RCT you may also be invited to participate in a follow up one-on-one interview lasting about 60 minutes.  
 

 
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Why you are being asked to participate:  
You are being asked to participate in this study because you are an adult patient at the Mbarara Regional 
Referral Hospital, you stated that you drink alcohol, you are not currently participating in any other research 
study but you may have participated in a previous research study conducted by our team. 
Procedures:  
If you agree to participate in the study the following will occur: 
We will ask you to take part in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test an alcohol use reduction intervention. 
Your participation in the RCT will last 9 months and include the following procedures: 
Interview: A research assistant will interview you about your health, use of alcohol, at the beginning of the 
study, and at your 6-month and 9-month study visits. We will talk about matters that may be personal to you. If 
we ask any questions that you do not want to answer, you can simply say, "I do not want to answer that."  This 
interview will occur in a private location and will take about 60 minutes each time. The interviewers will not be 
able to answer questions about your health or your health care. However, you may consult health care 
practitioners at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for additional information about alcohol or your health 
at any time. 
 
Blood draw for test: A research assistant will draw approximately 5 mls (1 tablespoon) of your blood at your 
first study visit and also at your 6-month and 9-month study visits. Your blood will also be used for a laboratory 
test that will measure the amount of alcohol you have taken in the last month. You will not be told the results of 
the blood test for alcohol. The researchers will store the specimens until the testing has been completed. Each 
blood draw will take about 20 minutes to complete. 
 
Randomization to one of three groups: You will be "randomized" into one of the three study groups that I will 
describe to you. Randomization means that you are assigned to a group by chance. A computer program will 
make this assignment. Neither you nor the research assistant can choose the group you will be in. You will have 
an equal chance of being placed in each group.  
• If you are in group one will be asked to complete study activities now, and every three weeks for 3 
months, and then at 6 months and 9 months after your enrolment in the study.   
• If you are in group two will be asked to complete study activities now, and once to twice a week for 3 
months, and then at 6 months and 9 months after your enrolment in the study. 
• If you are in group three will be asked to complete study activities now, and again at 9 months after your 
enrolment in the study. 
I will now tell you about the study activities, and when they will take place.  The schedule for the study 
activities will be dependent on whether you are put in group 1, group 2 or group 3. 
 
In-person Counseling for Group 1 and Group 2: You will receive an in-person counseling session about your 
drinking from a study counselor. The counselor will discuss options for reducing your drinking and develop a 
plan with you to achieve your drinking goals. The in-person counseling session will last about 30-60 minutes 
and will take place at our offices in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital or at any location of your choosing.  
Cell phone use for Group 1 and Group 2: You will be required to own or have access to a working cell phone 
for use during your participation in this part of the study.  
Follow-up counseling sessions via telephone for Group 1 only: You will be required to own or have access to a 
working cell phone for use during your participation in this part of the study, to enable you receive phone calls 

 
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32
at no additional cost to you. You will receive a phone call from a counselor for counseling booster sessions over 
the phone. You will receive one phone call every three weeks for 3 months after your in-person counseling 
session. These phone calls will last approximately 20 minutes. 
 
IVR/SMS training for Group 2 only: You will be trained by a research assistant on how to operate your cell 
phone for purposes of the study including training on how to receive and send messages via text or voice. You 
will also be shown how to protect your privacy by using a selected password to access the phone messages. This 
training will last about 30 minutes. 
 
Follow-up counseling sessions via telephone for Group 2 only: You will be required to own or have access to a 
working cell phone for use during your participation in this part of the study, to enable you receive and send 
phone voice and text messages at no additional cost to you. You will receive either a phone voice or text 
message once to twice a week for 3 months after your in-person counseling session. You will be asked to 
respond to the messages when you receive them. 
Standard of Care for Group 3 only: You will continue to receive the normal care that you get at the Mbarara 
Regional Referral Hospital for 9 months after your enrolment in the study. 
Follow-up Interview for Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3: After you have participated in the RCT, you may be 
invited to participate in a follow-up one-on-one interview with a research assistant. The interview will be informal, 
like a conversation. We will talk about your experience with the RCT as well as all aspects of the intervention, 
including the in-person counseling sessions, the use of the telephone text and voice messages. The interview will 
last about 60 minutes and will take place either at the offices of the Global Health Collaborative Mbarara, in a 
private room at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, or at a private location that we agree upon.  
We will audio-tape the individual interview and the recordings will be used in writing up the discussions, to 
ensure our notes are complete and accurate. Only members of the research team will have access to the 
recordings. The recordings will be transferred to a computer where they will be password-protected, and the 
recordings will be destroyed when we have finished analyzing the data. 
 
Collection of tracking information and tracking activities: We will ask that you give us information about where 
you live and phone numbers so that we can contact you. We will call you to remind you when it is time to come 
in for your 6-month and 9-month study visits and also try to locate you by phone or in person if you miss a 
study visit. We will not disclose any of your private information to anyone we speak to when we try to find you. 
We may also contact you for future studies during this study or after it is over. 
 
Referrals for mental health and alcohol evaluation: Based on what you tell us or if you request, we will refer 
you for optional alcohol and mental health services available at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to help you 
cope. 
 
Risks / discomforts:   
Risk of blood draw: During the blood draw, mild pain, bruising, bleeding and fainting may happen. Study staff 
will be properly trained in blood draws to minimize such happenings.  
 
Risk of discomfort: Some of the interview questions may make you feel uncomfortable or raise unpleasant 
memories. You are free to refuse to talk about any topic without jeopardizing your participation in the study. 
If you are in Group 1 or Group 2, it is possible that you may become frustrated if you find the telephone 
difficult to use or the voice and text messages difficult to understand. You are free to discuss this with the 
research assistant and ask for help. 

 
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Potential loss of privacy or confidentiality: One potential risk of participating in the study is loss of privacy. 
Your information will be handled with as much privacy as possible. In order to protect your name, only your ID 
number will be used. All text and voice messages will require a passcode that you have selected to enable 
access to them. You will also be trained on how to delete messages from the study phone after you have 
received them. When the study team visits your home, they will not tell anyone outside your household why 
they are visiting and the vehicle will not have a name on it.  
 
The research assistant will not talk about your responses and comments with anyone other than the study 
investigators. Although the study staff will do their best to protect your privacy, it is possible that others will find 
out that you are participating in this study.  
 
Refusing to participate at any time will not affect healthcare services or medicines that you are currently 
receiving. For more information about risks and side effects, ask one of the researchers. 
   
Benefits:  
There will be no direct benefit to you from participating in this study. However, you will help the researchers 
conduct their research. In the long term, this research may improve the care of patients.   
Incentives / rewards for participating:  
You will not be paid for your participation, but you will be given refreshments and we will give you a small 
amount of food staples, such as 1 kilogram of sugar or 1 bar of soap, to compensate you for your time. If you 
need to come for a study visit on a day that you have no other clinic activities, we will reimburse your transport 
costs. If you live within 20km, we shall reimburse you ten thousand Uganda shillings (10,000 only), if you live 
farther than 20km from the clinic, we shall reimburse you twenty thousand Uganda shillings (20,000 only) and 
if you live farther than 60km from the clinic, you will be reimbursed up to forty thousand shillings (40,000) 
only. 
  
Protecting data confidentiality:    
We will do our best to make sure that the personal information gathered for this study is kept private and 
confidential. All study forms will be kept in a locked file cabinet in a locked research office; electronic data will 
be saved on password-protected computers. Only members of the research study team will have access to these 
data. If information from this study is published or presented at scientific meetings, your name and other 
personal information will not be used. We will destroy information that could identify you such as your name, 
address, and phone numbers ten years after the study has ended. All information will be handled in compliance 
with Uganda and U.S. law for confidential information. In unusual circumstances, your research records may be 
looked at by appropriate government agencies or be released in response to an order from a court, but the 
records will not contain your name or identification. These organizations include the U.S. Office for Human 
Research Protections, Committee for Human Research of the University of California, San Francisco, the 
Institutional Ethical Review Committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and the Uganda 
National Council on Science and Technology (UNCST). 
Protecting subject privacy during data collection: 
We will carry out the individual discussions in a private room at the clinic or the research offices. Alternatively, 
if you select an alternative location that is convenient for you, we will carry out this discussion from that 
alternative location. We will record your voice during the discussion, and then we will listen to the recording of 
the discussion and change it into written words later.  We will not include your name or any information that 
identifies you in the written notes. 

 
EXTEND RCT Protocol Version 1.0: April 1, 2019 
34
 
Right to refuse / withdraw:  
Your participation in this study is voluntary, and you can decide to stop at any time. Just tell the researcher or 
study staff person right away if you wish to stop being in the study. Your decision will have no impact on your 
medical treatment at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital or any other services you receive. 
 
What happens if you leave the study?  
If you decide to leave the study, there will be no penalty to you in any way. You will not lose any of your 
regular benefits, and you can still get your care from Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital the way you usually 
do.  
Also, the study researcher may stop you from taking part in the study at any time if he or she believes it is in 
your best interest, if you do not follow the study rules, or if the study is stopped. If this happens, you will not 
lose any of your regular benefits, and you can still get your care from the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital 
the way you usually do. 
 
Who do I ask/call if I have questions or a problem?  
If you have questions about this research, you may contact Dr. Winnie Muyindike (Tel. 0772-52-1619). Dr. 
Muyindike is a medical doctor at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. You may also call or visit the 
assistant study coordinator, Naomi Sanyu (Tel. 0759 584256). 
 
If you have questions about your rights as a research subject, you may call the Dr. Francis Bajunirwe, the 
chairperson of the Institutional Ethical Review Committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology. 
(Tel.  256-4854-33795) 
 
What does your signature (or thumbprint/mark) on this consent form mean? 
 
Your signature on this form means; 
• 
You have been informed about this study’s purpose, procedures, possible benefits and risks 
• 
You have been given the chance to ask questions before you sign 
• 
You have voluntarily agreed to be in this study 
 
 
-----------------------------------  
--------------------------------------- 
-------------- 
Print name of adult participant 
Signature of adult participant/legally 
Date 
                                                                        authorized representative 
   
______________________   
_______________________  
___________ 
Print name of person obtaining 
 Signature  
 
 
Date 
Consent 
 
 
-----------------------------------  
-------------------------------------- 
------------------ 
Thumbprint/mark 
 
Signature of witness 
                        Date