High Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence Obtained Using Mobile Phones for Video Directly Observed Therapy: Results of a Binational Pilot Study

AbstractMobile technologies represent potentially novel and scalable intervention delivery platforms for adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a prospective, mixed methods pilot study to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the WhatsApp® platform to deliver individual counseling services and facilitate peer support for ALWH in western Kenya. Thirty ALWH (17 female, mean age 15.4) on ART, engaged in HIV care and aware of their status, were enrolled. After 6 months, participants described their experiences with the intervention. Treatment adherence, stigma, and mental and behavioral health were assessed prospectively. Participants reported overall positive experiences and indicated that the platform encouraged peer network development. They endorsed potential benefits for treatment adherence, stigma reduction, and mental and behavioral health. All participants supported intervention expansion. In western Kenya, WhatsApp® was an acceptable and feasible platform for mobile counseling and peer support for ALWH.

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Effect of treatment adherence training given to patients with bipolar disorder on treatment adherence, social functioning and quality of life: A pilot study

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice ◽

10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101504 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 101504

Author(s):

Ebru Başkaya ◽

Satı Demir

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Treatment Adherence ◽

Effect Of Treatment

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Directly observed therapy and tuberculosis treatment completion. Jereb et al. re: Bayer et al.

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.89.4.603 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 89 (4) ◽

pp. 603-604 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J A Jereb ◽

P M Simone ◽

I M Onorato

Keyword(s):

Treatment Completion ◽

Tuberculosis Treatment ◽

Directly Observed Therapy

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Rural Patients' Access to Mobile Phones and Willingness to Receive Mobile Phone-Based Pharmacy and Other Health Technology Services: A Pilot Study

Telemedicine Journal and e-Health ◽

10.1089/tmj.2013.0150 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 182-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Jayashri Sankaranarayanan ◽

Rory E. Sallach

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Health Technology ◽

Technology Services ◽

To Receive ◽

Rural Patients

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Opportunities for Mobile App–Based Adherence Support for Children With Tuberculosis in South Africa

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/19154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. e19154

Author(s):

Rachel M Morse ◽

Hanlie Myburgh ◽

David Reubi ◽

Ava E Archey ◽

Leletu Busakwe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Treatment Adherence ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Mobile App ◽

Tuberculosis Treatment ◽

Mobile Technologies ◽

Patient Treatment ◽

Pilot Studies ◽

Adherence Support ◽

Positive Treatment

Tuberculosis is the number one infectious cause of death globally. Young children, generally those younger than 5 years, are at the highest risk of progressing from tuberculosis infection to tuberculosis disease and of developing the most severe forms of tuberculosis. Most current tuberculosis drug formulations have poor acceptability among children and require consistent adherence for prolonged periods of time. These challenges complicate children’s adherence to treatment and caregivers’ daily administration of the drugs. Rapid developments in mobile technologies and apps present opportunities for using widely available technology to support national tuberculosis programs and patient treatment adherence. Pilot studies have demonstrated that mobile apps are a feasible and acceptable means of enhancing children’s treatment adherence for other chronic conditions. Despite this, no mobile apps that aim to promote adherence to tuberculosis treatment have been developed for children. In this paper, we draw on our experiences carrying out research in clinical pediatric tuberculosis studies in South Africa. We present hypothetical scenarios of children’s adherence to tuberculosis medication to suggest priorities for behavioral and educational strategies that a mobile app could incorporate to address some of the adherence support gaps faced by children diagnosed with tuberculosis. We argue that a mobile app has the potential to lessen some of the negative experiences that children associate with taking tuberculosis treatment and to facilitate a more positive treatment adherence experience for children and their caregivers.

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