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Sejie GA, Mahomed OH. Mapping the effectiveness of the community tuberculosis care programs: a systematic review. Syst Rev 2023; 12:135. [PMID: 37537689 PMCID: PMC10399107 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02296-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is a significant global public health threat, especially in countries with limited resources. To improve tuberculosis care, the World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of considering a TB patient's journey across a variety of connected settings and facilities. A systematic review was conducted to map previously conducted studies to identify existing community TB implementation models, their effectiveness on cost, and treatment outcomes. METHODS Systematic search through various electronic databases MEDLINE, EBSCO (PsycINFO and CINAHL), Cochrane Library, EMBASE, WHO Regional Databases, gray literature, and hand-searched bibliographies was performed. Articles published in English between the years 2000 and 2022 with a substantial focus on community TB implementation models were considered for inclusion. Studies were excluded if the intervention was purely facility-based and those focusing exclusively on qualitative assessments. Two reviewers used standardized methods to screen titles, abstracts, and data charting. Included studies were assessed for quality using ROBINS-I and ROB 2. Analysis of study results uses a PRISMA flow diagram and quantitative approach. RESULTS A total of 6982 articles were identified with 36 meeting the eligibility criteria for analysis. Electronic medication monitors showed an increased probability of treatment success rate (RR 1.0-4.33 and the 95% CI 0.98-95.4) in four cohort studies in low- and middle-income countries with the incremental cost-effectiveness of $434. Four cohort studies evaluating community health worker direct observation therapy in low- and middle-income countries showed a treatment success risk ratio of up to 3.09 with a 95% CI of 0.06-7.88. (32,41,43,48) and incremental cost-effectiveness up to USS$410. Moreover, four comparative studies in low- and middle-income countries showed family directly observed treatment success risk ratio up to 9.07, 95% CI of 0.92-89.9. Furthermore, four short message service trials revealed a treatment success risk ratio ranging from 1.0 to 1.45 (95% CI fell within these values) with a cost-effectiveness of up to 350I$ compared to standard of care. CONCLUSIONS This review illustrates that community-based TB interventions such as electronic medication monitors, community health worker direct observation therapy, family directly observed treatment, and short message service can substantially bolster efficiency and convenience for patients and providers while reducing health system costs and improving clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabalape Arnold Sejie
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu, Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Boitekanelo College, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Ozayr H. Mahomed
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu, Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait
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Wu Z, Lu L, Li Y, Chen J, Zhang Z, Ning C, Yuan Z, Pan Q, Shen X, Zhang W. Effect of mobile health reminders on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Shanghai, China: A prospective cohort study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:923319. [PMID: 37181717 PMCID: PMC10173861 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.923319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Poor adherence increases the risk of unfavorable outcomes for tuberculosis (TB) patients. Mobile health (mHealth) reminders become promising approaches to support TB patients' treatment. But their effects on TB treatment outcomes remain controversial. In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the effect of the reminder application (app) and the smart pillbox on TB treatment outcomes compared with the standard care in Shanghai, China. Methods We recruited new pulmonary TB (PTB) patients diagnosed between April and November 2019 who were aged 18 or above, treated with the first-line regimen (2HREZ/4HR), and registered at Songjiang CDC (Shanghai). All eligible patients were invited to choose the standard care, the reminder app, or the smart pillbox to support their treatment. Cox proportional hazard model was fitted to assess the effect of mHealth reminders on treatment success. Results 260 of 324 eligible patients enrolled with 88 using standard care, 82 the reminder app, and 90 the smart pillbox, followed for a total of 77,430 days. 175 (67.3%) participants were male. The median age was 32 (interquartile range [IQR] 25 to 50) years. A total of 44,785 doses were scheduled for 172 patients in the mHealth reminder groups during the study period. 44,604 (99.6%) doses were taken with 39,280 (87.7%) monitored by the mHealth reminders. A significant time-dependent downward linear trend was observed in the monthly proportion of dose intake (p < 0.001). 247 (95%) patients were successfully treated. The median treatment duration of successfully treated patients in the standard care group was 360 (IQR 283-369) days, significantly longer than those in the reminder app group (296, IQR 204-365, days) and the smart pillbox group (280, IQR 198-365, days) (both p < 0.01). Using the reminder app and the smart pillbox was associated with 1.58 times and 1.63 times increase in the possibility of treatment success compared with the standard care, respectively (both p < 0.01). Conclusion The reminder app and the smart pillbox interventions were acceptable and improved the treatment outcomes compared with the standard care under the programmatic setting in Shanghai, China. More high-level evidence is expected to confirm the effect of mHealth reminders on TB treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheyuan Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institutes of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Lu
- Songjiang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Li
- Songjiang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Zurong Zhang
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenxi Ning
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng’an Yuan
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Qichao Pan
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Shen
- Shanghai Institutes of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Shen, ; Wenhong Zhang,
| | - Wenhong Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Shen, ; Wenhong Zhang,
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Manyazewal T, Woldeamanuel Y, Holland DP, Fekadu A, Marconi VC. Effectiveness of a digital medication event reminder and monitor device for patients with tuberculosis (SELFTB): a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Med 2022; 20:310. [PMID: 36167528 PMCID: PMC9514884 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02521-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious disease worldwide. Trials evaluating digital adherence technologies for tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries are urgently needed. We aimed to assess whether a digital medication event reminder and monitor (MERM) device-observed self-administered therapy improves adherence and treatment outcomes in patients with tuberculosis compared with the standard in-person directly observed therapy (DOT). METHODS We did a two-arm, attention-controlled, effectiveness-implementation type 2 hybrid, randomized controlled trial in ten healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We included adults with new or previously treated, bacteriologically confirmed, drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis who were eligible to start anti-tuberculosis therapy. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a 15-day tuberculosis medication supply in the evriMED500® MERM device to self-administer and return every 15 days (intervention arm) or visit the healthcare facilities each day to swallow their daily dose with DOT by healthcare providers (control arm). Both arms were followed throughout the standard two-month intensive treatment phase (2RHZE). For control participants, some provider-approved take-home doses might be allowed for extenuating circumstances in real-world practice. Data were collected on patient information (demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, social, and clinical information), medication adherence measures (MERM vs. DOT records, IsoScreenTM urine colorimetric isoniazid test, and adherence self-report), and clinical measures (pre-post treatment sputum Xpert MTB/RIF assay or microscopy, and adverse treatment outcomes). The intention-to-treat (ITT) primary endpoints were (1) individual-level percentage adherence over the two-month intensive phase measured by adherence records compiled from MERM device vs. DOT records that also considered all take-home doses as having been ingested and (2) sputum smear conversion following the standard two-month intensive phase treatment. Secondary endpoints were (1) individual-level percentage adherence over the two-month intensive phase measured by adherence records compiled from the MERM device vs. DOT records that considered all take-home doses as not ingested, (2) negative IsoScreen urine isoniazid test, (3) adverse treatment outcome (having at least one of the three events: treatment not completed; death; or loss to follow-up), and (4) self-reported adherence. The MERM device has an electronic module and a medication container that records adherence, stores medication, emits audible and visual on-board alarms to remind patients to take their medications on time and refill, and enables providers to download the data and monitor adherence. RESULTS Participants were enrolled into the study between 02 June 2020 and 15 June 2021, with the last participant completing follow-up on 15 August 2021. A total of 337 patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 114 were randomly assigned and included in the final analysis [57 control and 57 intervention participants]. Participants were 64.9% male, 15% with HIV, 10.5% retreatment, and 5.3% homeless. Adherence to TB medication was comparable between the intervention arm [geometric mean percentage (GM%) 99.01%, geometric standard deviation (GSD) 1.02] and the control arm [GM% 98.97%, GSD 1.04] and was within the prespecified margin for non-inferiority [mean ratio (MR) 1.00 (95% CI 0.99-1.01); p = 0.954]. The intervention arm was significantly superior to the control arm in the secondary analysis that considered all take-home doses in the control were not ingested [control GM% 77.71 (GSD 1.57), MR 1.27 (95% CI 1.33-1.43)]. Urine isoniazid testing was done on 443 (97%) samples from 114 participants; 13 participants had at least one negative result; a negative test was significantly more common among the control group compared with the intervention group [11/57 (19.3%) vs 2/57 (3.5%); p = 0.008]. There was no significant difference between the control and intervention arms for smear conversion [55 (98.2%) vs 52 (100%); p>0.999], adverse treatment outcomes [0 vs 1 (1.9%); p = 0.48], and self-report non-adherence [5 (8.9%) vs 1 (1.9%); p = 0.21]. CONCLUSIONS In this randomized trial of patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis, medication adherence among participants assigned to MERM-observed self-administered therapy was non-inferior and superior by some measures when compared with the standard in-person DOT. Further research is needed to understand whether adherence in the intervention is primarily driven by allowing self-administered therapy which reduced challenges of repeated clinic visits or by the adherence support provided by the MERM system. To avoid contributing to patient barriers with DOT, tuberculosis medical programs should consider alternatives such as medication event monitors. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04216420.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsegahun Manyazewal
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - David P. Holland
- Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
| | - Abebaw Fekadu
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Vincent C. Marconi
- Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA
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Acosta J, Flores P, Alarcón M, Grande-Ortiz M, Moreno-Exebio L, Puyen ZM. A randomised controlled trial to evaluate a medication monitoring system for TB treatment. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2022; 26:44-49. [PMID: 34969428 PMCID: PMC8734191 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.21.0373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adherence to TB treatment and therefore treatment success could be improved using digital adherence technology.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a medication event reminder monitor system (MERM) on treatment success and treatment adherence in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB in Perú.METHODS: This was an experimental, randomised, open-label, controlled study conducted among patients in the second phase of TB treatment. The intervention group received their medications through MERM with the support of a treatment monitor, whereas the control group used the usual strategy. Participants were followed until they completed the 54 doses of the second phase of treatment.RESULTS: The study included 53 patients in each group; four in the intervention group withdrew from the study. Treatment success was significantly more frequent in the MERM group (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.30; P = 0.0322). There was no significant difference in the adherence outcomes; however, the percentage of patients who missed at least one dose and patients with more than 10% of total doses missed were lower in the intervention group.CONCLUSION: The use of MERM in the second phase of treatment showed a significant improvement in the treatment success rate in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Acosta
- Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú, Huancayo, Peru
| | - P Flores
- Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - M Alarcón
- Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | - Z M Puyen
- Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
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Wang N, Guo L, Shewade HD, Thekkur P, Zhang H, Yuan YL, Wang XM, Wang XL, Sun MM, Huang F, Zhao YL. Effect of using electronic medication monitors on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in China: a longitudinal ecological study. Infect Dis Poverty 2021; 10:29. [PMID: 33731213 PMCID: PMC7967105 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-021-00818-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In China, an indigenously developed electronic medication monitor (EMM) was designed and used in 138 counties from three provinces. Previous studies showed positive results on accuracy, effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility, but also found some ineffective implementations. In this paper, we assessed the effect of implementation of EMMs on treatment outcomes. Methods The longitudinal ecological method was used at the county level with aggregate secondary programmatic data. All the notified TB cases in 138 counties were involved in this study from April 2017 to June 2019, and rifampicin-resistant cases were excluded. We fitted a multilevel model to assess the relative change in the quarterly treatment success rate with increasing quarterly EMM coverage rate, in which a mixed effects maximum likelihood regression using random intercept model was applied, by adjusting for seasonal trends, population size, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and clustering within counties. Results Among all 69 678 notified TB cases, the treatment success rate was slightly increased from 93.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 93.0–94.0] in second quarter of 2018 to 94.9% (95% CI: 94.4–95.4) in second quarter of 2019 after implementing EMMs. There was a statistically significant effect between quarterly EMM coverage and treatment success rate after adjusting for potential confounders (P = 0.0036), increasing 10% of EMM coverage rate will lead to 0.2% treatment success rate augment. Besides, an increase of 10% of elderly or bacteriologically confirmed TB will lead to a decrease of 0.4% and 0.9% of the treatment success rate. Conclusions Under programmatic settings, we found a statistically significant effect between increasing coverage of EMM and treatment success rate at the county level. More prospective studies are needed to confirm the effect of using EMM on TB treatment outcomes. We suggest performing operational research on EMMs that provides real-time data under programmatic conditions in the future. ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40249-021-00818-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Wang
- National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Guo
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hemant Deepak Shewade
- International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.,The Union South-East Asia Office, New Delhi, India
| | - Pruthu Thekkur
- International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.,The Union South-East Asia Office, New Delhi, India
| | - Hui Zhang
- National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Li Yuan
- Jilin Research Institute of Tuberculosis Control, Changchun, China
| | - Xiao-Meng Wang
- Zhejiang Province Center Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Wang
- The Fourth People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Miao-Miao Sun
- Program for Appropriate Technology in Health(PATH), China Program, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Huang
- National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
| | - Yan-Lin Zhao
- National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
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