Adapting digital health interventions for the evolving HIV landscape: examples to support prevention and treatment research

Purpose of review Although many HIV prevention and/or treatment digital health interventions (DHIs) have shown feasibility and acceptability, fewer have indicated efficacy, and only a subset have been adapted for new contexts. Adaptation is a key element of pragmatic implementation science research. Adaptation is cost effective and time efficient compared with new development. Leveraging adaptation can lead to accelerated scale-up and enhanced public health impact. Considering the value of adaptation, the purpose of this piece is to present examples of DHI to DHI adaptation sequences to inform future HIV prevention and/or treatment research. Recent findings From an examination of recent academic articles (01 November 2016 to 31 October 2021), we identified adaptation sequences that included an original DHI with at least two adaptations. Four models are presented herein; examples consist of adapted DHIs for new population, health outcome, geography, or a combination thereof. Adaptation is a promising scientific approach to expeditiously respond to the evolving HIV landscape. We present examples of DHI adaptations alongside considerations for each type of adaptation; we also present adaptation challenges with responsive strategies. We suggest when conducted with attention to rigor (leveraging adaptation frameworks, community engagement, and tailoring content), adaptation is a powerful tool to pragmatically address the HIV epidemic.