Treatment Adherence Research

Groovy Pyramid music was the basis of a pilot RCT conducted Emory University researchers.  The NIH/NINR funded project, entitled Live Network, compared a music-based intervention with usual care.  The results showed that, while adherence declined over the 12 weeks, the LN treatment group’s adherence self-efficacy scores significantly improved.  In addition, the participants expressed overwhelmingly positive responses to the program, and each song rated received mean ratings over 8.5 on a 0 (hated it) to 10 (loved it) scale.

Program Description

The Live Network program is an easy to administer, educationally sound, portable music-enhanced audio self-management adherence program for HIV infected persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART).  The program was developed in a pre-recorded radio talk show format where a disc jockey takes questions and comments from callers about HIV medications and related issues, poses them to experts, and plays songs that shed light on issues that impede adherence self-management. It is self-administered and designed to enhance patients’ knowledge, motivation, and self-efficacy in ART adherence self-management.   The primary benefits of the program were self-empowerment and improved knowledge both for themselves and families and friends, and motivational messages that spurred self-management activities, including adherence. Participants reported sharing the LN with adolescent children and grandchildren, who eagerly listened. Music served as the “hook” that engaged listeners to listen to the lyrics. “Good” songs were described as ‘encouraging’ and ‘uplifting.

Bump In the Road (A song about managing side effects)