Mobile phone interventions are often used in healthcare for sharing information and interacting with patients regarding their treatment and care. In people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), antiretroviral treatment is crucial and mobile phone interventions are increasingly used to promote adherence to HIV treatment. However, such interventions have potential disadvantages, which nurses and other healthcare professionals need to recognise and mitigate.

This article details a literature review that investigated the disadvantages of mobile phone interventions designed to promote adherence to treatment among people with HIV. Four themes were identified from the literature: issues with confidentiality of HIV diagnosis, frustrations associated with technical issues, lost or stolen mobile phones, and the importance of professional support. Nurses involved in caring for patients with HIV should seek to mitigate these disadvantages, regularly review the effectiveness of mobile phone interventions and ensure that each patient receives personalised support. Further research into existing and new mobile phone-based methods of patient support is warranted.