Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38922643›Full record

ArticleOnline journal of public health informatics2024

Acceptability of a Digital Adherence Tool Among Patients With Tuberculosis and Tuberculosis Care Providers in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania: Mixed Methods Study.

Alan Elias Mtenga, Rehema Anenmose Maro, Angel Dillip, Perry Msoka, Naomi Emmanuel, Kennedy Ngowi, Marion Sumari-de Boer

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Article in Online journal of public health informatics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alan Elias MtengamHealth Department, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6925-6142
Rehema Anenmose MaromHealth Department, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8310-6665
Angel DillipDepartment of Life Science and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2565-9480
Perry MsokamHealth Department, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9315-5495
Naomi EmmanuelmHealth Department, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9195-8810
Kennedy NgowimHealth Department, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3692-5940
Marion Sumari-de BoermHealth Department, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5433-0406

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe World Health Organization has recommended digital adherence tools (DATs) as a promising intervention to improve antituberculosis drug adherence. However, the acceptability of DATs in resource-limited settings is not adequately studied.

objectiveWe investigated the acceptability of a DAT among patients with tuberculosis (TB) and TB care providers in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

methodsWe conducted a convergent parallel mixed methods study among patients with TB and TB care providers participating in our 2-arm cluster randomized trial (REMIND-TB). The trial aimed to investigate whether the evriMED pillbox with reminder cues and adherence feedback effectively improves adherence to anti-TB treatment among patients with TB in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. We conducted exit and in-depth interviews among patients as well as in-depth interviews among TB care providers in the intervention arm. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the quantitative data from exit interviews. Translated transcripts and memos were organized using NVivo software. We employed inductive and deductive thematic framework analysis, guided by Sekhon's theoretical framework of acceptability.

resultsOut of the 245 patients who completed treatment, 100 (40.8%) were interviewed during exit interviews, and 18 patients and 15 TB care providers were interviewed in-depth. Our findings showed that the DAT was highly accepted: 83% (83/100) expressed satisfaction, 98% (98/100) reported positive experiences with DAT use, 78% (78/100) understood how the intervention works, and 92% (92/100) successfully used the pillbox. Good perceived effectiveness was reported by 84% (84/100) of the participants who noticed improved adherence, and many preferred continuing receiving reminders through SMS text messages, indicating high levels of self-efficacy. Ethical concerns were minimal, as 85 (85%) participants did not worry about remote monitoring. However, some participants felt burdened using DATs; 9 (9%) faced difficulties keeping the device at home, 12 (12%) were not pleased with receiving daily reminder SMS text messages, and 30 (30%) reported challenges related to mobile network connectivity issues. TB care providers accepted the intervention due to its perceived impact on treatment outcomes and behavior change in adherence counseling, and they demonstrated high level of intervention coherence.

conclusionsDATs are highly acceptable in Tanzania. However, some barriers such as TB-related stigma and mobile network connectivity issues may limit acceptance. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1186/s13063-019-3483-4.

Indexed as

acceptabilityadherencedigital adherence toolmedication reminder monitorspatients with tuberculosisTBTB care provider

Identifiers

PMID38922643
PMCPMC11237791

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.