A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed, PubMed Central, and MEDLINE databases. The literature search was conducted on 30th December, 2023. We selected only randomized controlled trials reporting mobile applications used in improving adherence to ART among PLHIV published from January 2013 to December 2023. The search result was reviewed by two authors while a third author broke the tie in case of disagreement in the decision of the two authors.

The search strategy comprised a combination of medical subheading terms and keywords. We combined the following terms: “mobile app” OR “mobile application” OR mHealth AND (adherence OR antiretroviral OR “HIV treatment”) AND (HIV OR HIV/AIDS OR AIDS).

mHealth interventions from each of the studied publications were disaggregated across the 16 variables in the mHealth evidence reporting and assessment (mERA) guidelines [5]: (1) infrastructure, (2) technology platform, (3) interoperability/health information systems content, (4) intervention delivery, (5) intervention content, (6) usability/content testing, (7) user feedback, (8) access of individual participants, (9) cost assessment, (10) adoption inputs/programme entry, 11) limitations for delivery at scale, 12) contextual adaptability, 13) replicability, 14) data security, 15) compliance with national guidelines, and 16) fidelity of the intervention [5].

The included studies were evaluated with the 16 criteria on the WHO standard reporting guideline for mHealth. A Google form was created including each of the criteria with the response “Yes” or “No” whether the study met the criteria with an excerpt of the evidence from the study. Other variables included the date of publication, country of study, and name of first author. Studies were also grouped into two based on the year of publication – whether it was published before the guideline was released (2013–2016) or after (2017–2023).

We considered articles published in English and conducted from January 2013 to December 2023. Only studies that focused on the use of mHealth intervention for ART adherence among patients and healthcare professionals associated with HIV were included. Articles were excluded if: (i) did not describe the mobile app intervention, (ii) focused on interventions different from mobile app (iii) population different from PLHIV or healthcare professional (iv) study design different from randomized control trials (v) published before December, 1988 and beyond December, 2019; (vi) not peer-reviewed, and (vii) studies that require standard subscription.

Data extraction and descriptive analysis were performed using Microsoft Office Excel and categorical variables were summarized in frequency and percentages. “Yes” depicted that the item on the checklist was fulfilled while “No” depicted otherwise. A score of “1” was awarded to each “Yes” and “0” to “No”. The total score for each study was calculated with the highest point attainable of “16”. The total score for each criterion was also calculated as the proportion of the number of included studies. Studies with scores of “11–16” were considered “good” reporting, “8–10” as “average”, and “less than 8” as “poor”.

This study was based exclusively on secondary data; hence, no ethical approval and informed consent were required.