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Chai PR, Kaithamattam JJ, Chung M, Tom JJ, Goodman GR, Hasdianda MA, Carnes TC, Vaduganathan M, Scirica BM, Schnipper JL. Formative Perceptions of a Digital Pill System to Measure Adherence to Heart Failure Pharmacotherapy: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Cardio 2024; 8:e48971. [PMID: 38358783 PMCID: PMC10905352 DOI: 10.2196/48971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) affects 6.2 million Americans and is a leading cause of hospitalization. The mainstay of the management of HF is adherence to pharmacotherapy. Despite the effectiveness of HF pharmacotherapy, effectiveness is closely linked to adherence. Measuring adherence to HF pharmacotherapy is difficult; most clinical measures use indirect strategies such as calculating pharmacy refill data or using self-report. While helpful in guiding treatment adjustments, indirect measures of adherence may miss the detection of suboptimal adherence and co-occurring structural barriers associated with nonadherence. Digital pill systems (DPSs), which use an ingestible radiofrequency emitter to directly measure medication ingestions in real-time, represent a strategy for measuring and responding to nonadherence in the context of HF pharmacotherapy. Previous work has demonstrated the feasibility of using DPSs to measure adherence in other chronic diseases, but this strategy has yet to be leveraged for individuals with HF. OBJECTIVE We aim to explore through qualitative interviews the facilitators and barriers to using DPS technology to monitor pharmacotherapy adherence among patients with HF. METHODS We conducted individual, semistructured qualitative interviews and quantitative assessments between April and August 2022. A total of 20 patients with HF who were admitted to the general medical or cardiology service at an urban quaternary care hospital participated in this study. Participants completed a qualitative interview exploring the overall acceptability of and willingness to use DPS technology for adherence monitoring and perceived barriers to DPS use. Quantitative assessments evaluated HF history, existing medication adherence strategies, and attitudes toward technology. We analyzed qualitative data using applied thematic analysis and NVivo software (QSR International). RESULTS Most participants (12/20, 60%) in qualitative interviews reported a willingness to use the DPS to measure HF medication adherence. Overall, the DPS was viewed as useful for increasing accountability and reinforcing adherence behaviors. Perceived barriers included technological issues, a lack of need, additional costs, and privacy concerns. Most were open to sharing adherence data with providers to bolster clinical care and decision-making. Reminder messages following detected nonadherence were perceived as a key feature, and customization was desired. Suggested improvements are primarily related to the design and usability of the Reader (a wearable device). CONCLUSIONS Overall, individuals with HF perceived the DPS to be an acceptable and useful tool for measuring medication adherence. Accurate, real-time ingestion data can guide adherence counseling to optimize adherence management and inform tailored behavioral interventions to support adherence among patients with HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jenson J Kaithamattam
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michelle Chung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeremiah J Tom
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Georgia R Goodman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Muthiah Vaduganathan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Benjamin M Scirica
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeffrey L Schnipper
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Albrechta H, Goodman GR, Oginni E, Mohamed Y, Venkatasubramanian K, Dumas A, Carreiro S, Lee JS, Glynn TR, O'Cleirigh C, Mayer KH, Fisher CB, Chai PR. Acceptance of digital phenotyping linked to a digital pill system to measure PrEP adherence among men who have sex with men with substance use. PLOS DIGITAL HEALTH 2024; 3:e0000457. [PMID: 38386618 PMCID: PMC10883553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Once-daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective strategy to prevent HIV, but is highly dependent on adherence. Men who have sex with men (MSM) who use substances face unique challenges maintaining PrEP adherence. Digital pill systems (DPS) allow for real-time adherence measurement through ingestible sensors. Integration of DPS technology with other digital health tools, such as digital phenotyping, may improve understanding of nonadherence triggers and development of personalized adherence interventions based on ingestion behavior. This study explored the willingness of MSM with substance use to share digital phenotypic data and interact with ancillary systems in the context of DPS-measured PrEP adherence. Adult MSM on PrEP with substance use were recruited through a social networking app. Participants were introduced to DPS technology and completed an assessment to measure willingness to participate in DPS-based PrEP adherence research, contribute digital phenotyping data, and interact with ancillary systems in the context of DPS-based research. Medical mistrust, daily worry about PrEP adherence, and substance use were also assessed. Participants who identified as cisgender male and were willing to participate in DPS-based research (N = 131) were included in this subsample analysis. Most were White (76.3%) and non-Hispanic (77.9%). Participants who reported daily PrEP adherence worry had 3.7 times greater odds (95% CI: 1.03, 13.4) of willingness to share biometric data via a wearable device paired to the DPS. Participants with daily PrEP adherence worry were more likely to be willing to share smartphone data (p = 0.006) and receive text messages surrounding their daily activities (p = 0.003), compared to those with less worry. MSM with substance use disorder, who worried about PrEP adherence, were willing to use DPS technology and share data required for digital phenotyping in the context of PrEP adherence measurement. Efforts to address medical mistrust can increase advantages of this technology for HIV prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Albrechta
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Georgia R Goodman
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Oginni
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yassir Mohamed
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Krishna Venkatasubramanian
- Department of Computer Science and Statistics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Arlen Dumas
- Department of Computer Science and Statistics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Carreiro
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
| | - Jasper S Lee
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tiffany R Glynn
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kenneth H Mayer
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Celia B Fisher
- Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Peter R Chai
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Goodman GR, Carnes TC, Albrechta H, Alpert P, Hokayem J, Goldfine C, Lee JS, Boyer EW, Rosen R, Mayer KH, O'Cleirigh C, Chai PR. Real-World Implementation Challenges Associated with a Digital Pill System to Measure Adherence to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis from Two Studies of Men Who Have Sex With Men. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ... ANNUAL HAWAII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYSTEM SCIENCES. ANNUAL HAWAII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYSTEM SCIENCES 2024; 57:3211-3221. [PMID: 38213843 PMCID: PMC10783042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Once-daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention, but its efficacy is dependent on adherence, which can be challenging for men who have sex with men (MSM) with substance use. Digital pill systems (DPS) represent a novel tool for directly measuring adherence through ingestible radiofrequency sensors that confirm ingestions in real-time. We examined operational challenges across two studies involving DPS to measure PrEP adherence. While most participants successfully operated the system, a number of technological and sociobehavioral challenges requiring intervention were identified across both studies. Technological issues were both system- and participant-related, and were primarily addressed with technical updates and participant re-education, while sociobehavioral issues, including health and housing changes and issues with technology access, warranted innovative solutions. Future research leveraging DPS technology should develop robust supportive infrastructure and mitigation procedures to promptly identify and resolve operational issues to optimize the potential benefits of DPS use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jasper S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - Edward W Boyer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center
| | | | | | | | - Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
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Chai P, De D, Albrechta H, Goodman GR, Takabatake K, Ben-Arieh A, Lee JS, Glynn TR, Mayer K, O'Cleirigh C, Fisher C. Attitudes towards participating in research involving digital pill systems to measure oral HIV pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis: a cross-sectional study among men who have sex with men with substance use in the USA. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067549. [PMID: 36717151 PMCID: PMC9887701 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This quantitative survey sought to understand, among men who have sex with men (MSM) with potentially problematic substance use, the attitudes towards participation in research involving digital pill systems (DPS) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence measurement, and the barriers and facilitators to research participation. DESIGN One-time, cross-sectional, online sampling-based survey. SETTING US social networking app predominantly focused on MSM. PARTICIPANTS MSM without HIV who reported current use of oral PrEP, potentially problematic substance use and sexual activity in the past 3 months. A total of 157 participants were eligible, passed validity checks and enrolled. OUTCOME MEASURES Perceptions of DPS usefulness, accuracy and usability (System Usability Scale (SUS)); willingness and motivations to participate in DPS research; preferences for access to and feedback on DPS adherence data; data sharing considerations; and medical mistrust (Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale (GBMMS)). RESULTS Most of the sample (N=157) was white (n=119, 75.8%), gay (n=124, 79.0%) and cisgender (n=150, 95.5%). The median age was 33 years (IQR: 14). The mean GBMMS score was 13.5 (SD=5.2), and the median SUS score was 70 (IQR: 27.5). In the past 3 months, 36.3% (n=57) reported frequent use of substances before or during sex, and 62.4% (n=98) engaged in condomless sex. While most were adherent to PrEP, approximately 34.4% (n=54) expressed significant worry about daily adherence. Participants wished to monitor their PrEP adherence daily (n=66, 42.0%) and 52% (n=82) were very willing to participate in DPS-based research. The majority were minimally concerned about sharing DPS-detected adherence data with research teams (n=126, 80.3%), and were extremely willing to share these data with healthcare providers (n=109, 69.4%). CONCLUSIONS In this sample, MSM without HIV who use substances reported willingness to use DPS to measure PrEP adherence in a research context, and identified benefits to accessing real-time, DPS-detected adherence data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dikha De
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Georgia R Goodman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Koki Takabatake
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Jasper S Lee
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tiffany R Glynn
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kenneth Mayer
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Celia Fisher
- Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, New York, New York, USA
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Lee JS, Albrechta H, Goodman GR, De D, Takabatake K, O'Cleirigh C, Mayer KH, Fisher C, Carnes CT, Chai PR. Diversity in Digital Pill Systems: Differences in Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Use of a Digital Pill System for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men with Diverse Racial and Ethnic Identities. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ... ANNUAL HAWAII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYSTEM SCIENCES. ANNUAL HAWAII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYSTEM SCIENCES 2023; 2023:2933-2942. [PMID: 36654663 PMCID: PMC9843706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Nonadherence, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM) with substance use disorders, increases the risk of HIV acquisition. Measuring adherence to HIV pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis (PrEP), and responding to suboptimal adherence or changes in adherence behavior remains a challenging public health problem. Despite the importance of accurate adherence measurement, there is no gold standard for detecting medication ingestion events in HIV research. Current adherence measures indirectly infer ingestion events or measure medication concentrations over time, yet such approaches fail to provide direct confirmation of ingestions and contextual information surrounding adherence and nonadherence. A digital pill system (DPS) - a novel tool that leverages ingestible radiofrequency sensors to measure actual ingestion events - may advance adherence measurement in HIV research. We examined and compared the willingness of MSM across racial and ethnic identities to operate a DPS in the context of PrEP adherence measurement and suggest potential future applications of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
| | | | - Georgia R Goodman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
| | - Dikha De
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
- Boston University School of Public Health
| | - Koki Takabatake
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
- Boston University School of Public Health
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
| | - Kenneth H Mayer
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
| | | | | | - Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
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Goldfine CE, Knapp A, Goodman GR, Hasdianda MA, Huang H, Marshall AD, Keschner YG, Carreiro S, Jambaulikar G, Chai PR. Media and technology usage and attitudes in emergency department patients. Front Digit Health 2022; 4:894683. [DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.894683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionDigital health technologies are increasingly being used in emergency medicine, many of which utilize smartphones and computers. Patient willingness to use these modalities is an important factor in successful implementation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess emergency department (ED) patients' use of and attitudes towards technology.MethodsThis was a pooled sub-analysis of ED patients (≥18 years old) that were enrolled in two studies evaluating the ED patient experience in response to novel technological interventions. Participants completed the Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale (MTUAS) that assessed computer and smartphone ownership; frequency of use of phone calls, texting, email, and smartphones; and anxiety and dependence attitudes on these technologies.ResultsOne hundred and forty-four participants completed the survey. Mean age was 47.2 years (SD 17.94); 61.8% were female; and 61.1% were white. There was high usage of smartphones (93.1%) and computers (74.3%). Participants most frequently used phone calling and texting and least commonly used email. Participants had a positive attitude (mean 3.9/5, SD 0.68) towards the use of these technologies.DiscussionED patients reported high ownership of smartphones and computers, had a positive attitude towards their use, and had varying frequency with which they used different technologies. Future studies can use this information to inform the development of digital health interventions that utilize technologies that patients find most acceptable.
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Goodman GR, Vaz C, Albrechta H, Boyer EW, Mayer KH, O'Cleirigh C, Chai PR. Ingestible Electronic Sensors for Monitoring Real-time Adherence to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Antiretroviral Therapy. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2022; 19:433-445. [PMID: 36048309 PMCID: PMC9509467 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-022-00625-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the recent advancements and future directions of digital pill systems (DPS) - which utilize ingestible sensors to directly measure medication ingestion events in real-time - in the context of HIV prevention and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS Two DPS are cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration. The bioequivalence and stability of digitized pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been established, and pilot studies have demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of using DPS for PrEP and ART adherence measurement. Important bioethical and implementation considerations have been identified for future clinical trials. Continued technological advancement may reduce barriers to use, and integration of DPS into behavioral interventions may facilitate adherence improvement efforts. DPS represent an innovative tool for PrEP and ART adherence measurement. Future work will optimize the technology to reduce operational barriers. DPS have significant potential for expansion across a diverse array of diseases, though key bioethical considerations must be examined prior to large-scale implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia R Goodman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clint Vaz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Edward W Boyer
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kenneth H Mayer
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Vaz C, Jose NK, Tom JJ, Goodman GR, Lee JS, Padappayil RP, Madathil M, O'Cleirigh C, Rodrigues R, Chai PR. Formative acceptance of ingestible biosensors to measure adherence to TB medications. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:754. [PMID: 36171553 PMCID: PMC9517983 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07756-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculosis (TB) represents a significant public health threat in India. Adherence to antitubercular therapy (ATT) is the key to reducing the burden of this infectious disease. Suboptimal adherence to ATT and lack of demonstrated feasibility of current strategies for monitoring ATT adherence highlights the need for alternative adherence monitoring systems.
Methods A quantitative survey was conducted to assess the acceptance of and willingness to use a digital pill system (DPS) as a tool for monitoring ATT adherence among stakeholders directly involved in the management of patients with TB in India. Participants reviewed a video explaining the DPS and completed a survey, which covered sociodemographics, degree of involvement with TB patients, initial impressions of the DPS, and perceived challenges for deploying the technology in India. Participants were also asked to interpret mock DPS adherence data. Results The mean age was 34.3 (SD = 7.3), and participants (N = 50) were predominantly male (70%). The sample comprised internists (52%) and pulmonologists (30%), with a median of 4 years’ experience (IQR 3, 6) in the management of TB patients. No participants had previously used a DPS, but some reported prior awareness of the technology (22%). Most reported that they would recommend use of a DPS to patients on ATT (76%), and that they would use a DPS in both the intensive and continuation phases of TB management (64%). The majority viewed the DPS (82%) as a useful alternative to directly observed therapy-short course (DOTS), particularly given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants reported that a DPS would be most effective in patients at risk of nonadherence (64%), as well as those with past nonadherence (64%). Perceived barriers to DPS implementation included lack of patient willingness (92%), cost (86%), and infrastructure constraints (66%). The majority of participants were able to accurately interpret patterns of adherence (80%), suboptimal adherence (90%), and frank nonadherence (82%) when provided with mock DPS data. Conclusions DPS are viewed as an acceptable, feasible, and useful technology for monitoring ATT adherence by stakeholders directly involved in TB management. Future investigations should explore patient acceptance of DPS and pilot demonstration of the system in the TB context. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07756-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint Vaz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nisha K Jose
- Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, HQs, New Delhi, India
| | - Jeremiah Jacob Tom
- Department of Gastroenterology, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Georgia R Goodman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jasper S Lee
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Manjunath Madathil
- Department of Dermatology, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.,Department of Dermatology, Imbichibava Memorial Co-Operative Hospital and Research Center, Malappuram, Kerala, India
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rashmi Rodrigues
- Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India
| | - Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. .,The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA. .,Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Chai PR, Goodman GR, Bronzi O, Gonzales G, Baez A, Bustamante MJ, Najarro J, Mohamed Y, Sullivan MC, Mayer KH, Boyer EW, O'Cleirigh C, Rosen RK. Real-World User Experiences with a Digital Pill System to Measure PrEP Adherence: Perspectives from MSM with Substance Use. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:2459-2468. [PMID: 35089449 PMCID: PMC8795732 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Once-daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for preventing HIV transmission, but adherence can be challenging for men who have sex with men (MSM) who use substances. A novel method for directly measuring ingestion events is a digital pill system (DPS), which comprises an ingestible radiofrequency emitter that signals a wearable Reader device upon PrEP ingestion, relaying ingestion data to a wearable Reader device and then to a smartphone application. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 MSM with non-alcohol substance use following an open-label pilot demonstration trial involving use of the DPS to measure PrEP adherence for 90 days. The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to understand overall user experiences and potential barriers and facilitators to using the DPS to measure PrEP adherence among MSM. The DPS was largely perceived as acceptable, novel, and valuable, with most participants reporting that the system was easily integrated into their daily routines. Technological and design factors, especially related to the wearable Reader, impacted participants’ interest in using the technology long-term; several suggested improvements were discussed. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03842436.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02411, USA.
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Georgia R Goodman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02411, USA
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olivia Bronzi
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jesse Najarro
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Matthew C Sullivan
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth H Mayer
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward W Boyer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, 02411, USA
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rochelle K Rosen
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
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