Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39947715›Full record

ArticleBMJ global health2025

Implementation outcomes of tuberculosis digital adherence technologies: a scoping review using the RE-AIM framework.

Chimweta I Chilala, Nicola Foster, Shruti Bahukudumbi, Mona Salaheldin Mohamed, Miranda Zary, Cedric Kafie, Barbie Patel, Genevieve Gore, Kevin Schwartzman, Ramnath Subbaraman and 1 more

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

11 authors.

Chimweta I ChilalaDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9039-2367
Nicola FosterDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4630-6243
Shruti BahukudumbiDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mona Salaheldin MohamedMcGill International Tuberculosis Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Miranda ZaryMcGill International Tuberculosis Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Cedric KafieMcGill International Tuberculosis Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Barbie PatelDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Genevieve GoreMcGill Schulich Library of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1072-2683
Kevin SchwartzmanMcGill International Tuberculosis Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3354-1159
Ramnath SubbaramanDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2063-943X
Katherine L FieldingDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK katherine.fielding@lshtm.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6524-3754

Funding

Gates Foundation INV-038215
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionGlobally, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading infectious causes of death, with 1.3 million deaths. Digital adherence technologies (DATs) have the potential to provide person-centred care and improve outcomes. Using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we conducted a scoping review of DAT implementations for TB treatment.

methodsWe searched seven databases for papers published between January 2000 and April 2023, using keywords for 'tuberculosis' and 'digital adherence technology'. Articles meeting prespecified inclusion criteria and containing data on RE-AIM domains were included. We defined 'reach' as comprising cellphone ownership and engagement by people with TB (PWTB) with DATs, 'adoption' as engagement by healthcare providers with DAT programmes, 'implementation' as the fidelity of the DAT programme implemented and 'maintenance' as longer-term uptake of DATs.

resultsOf 10 313 records, 102 contributed to the synthesis. DATs included short message service (SMS), phone, 99DOTS, video-supported therapy (VST) and pillboxes. For 'reach', across various settings, cellphone access varied from 50%-100% and 2%-31% of PWTB was excluded from accessing DATs due to technology challenges. 36%-100% of PWTB agreed to use a DAT. The weighted mean of DAT engagement over dose-days was 81% for SMS, 85% for phone, 61% for 99DOTS, 87% for pillbox and 82% for VST. Concerning 'implementation', the fidelity of DAT implementations was affected by technological issues such as cellphone coverage, DAT malfunction and provider-facing issues, including failure to initiate intensified patient management following low DAT engagement. Findings related to RE-AIM dimensions of 'adoption' and 'maintenance' were limited.

conclusionOur findings suggest that the 'reach' of DATs may be limited by a cascade of barriers, including limitations in cellphone accessibility and suboptimal sustained DAT engagement by PWTB. Video and pillbox DATs have higher levels of engagement. Implementation challenges included technological and provider-facing issues. Improving implementation outcomes may be important for TB DATs to achieve a broader public health impact. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022326968.

Indexed as

Digital TechnologyTuberculosisCell PhoneHumansText MessagingGlobal HealthPublic HealthReviewTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID39947715
PMCPMC11831268

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.