Table 5 Summary of results

Adherence support

Adherence

-Self-reported adherence improved with intervention [23, 28, 29].

-Intervention increased ratio of the number of recorded Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS) cap openings to the number of openings to be expected if the medication were taken as prescribed [27].

-Pharmacy drug refill increased significantly with intervention [23].

Viral load

No significant change [23, 27, 29].

CD4 count

No significant change [23, 27, 29].

Improved psycho-social wellbeing

Health-related quality of life

-SF-12 mental health subscale improved with intervention but not the SF-12 physical health subscale [25].

-No clear difference in health related quality of life outcomes (SF-12) [26].

-Improved WHO quality of life measures [28].

Psychiatric symptoms

No significant difference between groups in reduction in psychiatric symptoms (Colorado Symptom Index (CSI) score) [26].

Emotional distress (depression, stigma, worry)

-Reduced symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 score) with intervention [26].

-Reduced HIV stigma, worry, physical functioning but no significant difference in depressive symptoms, mood, general health or overall functioning [24].

-Reduced symptoms of depression (Self-rating Depression Scale) [28].

-Reduced symptoms of depression (CESD scale) in intervention group. No significant difference in social support (SSRS) and stigma (HIV stigma scale) [29].