THE ROLE OF MOBILE SMS-REMINDERS IN IMPROVING DRUGS COMPLIANCE IN PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTI-TB TREATMENT FROM DOTS PROGRAM
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Published:
May 12, 2017
Keywords:
Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis treatment, Compliance, Default rate, Mobile phone, SMS, Text messages
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To find out the role of mobile SMS-reminders in improving drugs
compliance in patients receiving anti-TB treatment from DOTS program.
Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2014
to June 2015, in two centres: Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and Emergency
Satellite Hospital Nahaqi. Patients enrolled for anti-TB drugs were distributed
in intervention and control groups; daily mobile SMS reminders were sent to
patients of intervention group on top of usual DOTS. Patients were followed
on monthly basis. Primary outcome measure was default, defined as not taking
medicine for two consecutive months.
Results: Total of 148 patients were enrolled, 74 in each group. Baseline characteristics
of both groups were comparable. Mean age was 29.4 ±17.6 years, with
63 (42.6%) males, 65 (43.9%) smear-positive TB, 24 (16.2%) smear-negative TB,
and 59 (39.9%) extra-pulmonary TB. Treatment-default was found in 7 (4.7%)
patients, out of these 3 patients (4.1%) were in "intervention group" and 4 patients
(5.4%) were in "control group", both groups were comparable with no
significant statistical difference (p = 0.983).
Conclusion: Number of treatment-default cases was lower in "intervention
group" than "control group", but this numerical difference was not significant
statistically.
compliance in patients receiving anti-TB treatment from DOTS program.
Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2014
to June 2015, in two centres: Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and Emergency
Satellite Hospital Nahaqi. Patients enrolled for anti-TB drugs were distributed
in intervention and control groups; daily mobile SMS reminders were sent to
patients of intervention group on top of usual DOTS. Patients were followed
on monthly basis. Primary outcome measure was default, defined as not taking
medicine for two consecutive months.
Results: Total of 148 patients were enrolled, 74 in each group. Baseline characteristics
of both groups were comparable. Mean age was 29.4 ±17.6 years, with
63 (42.6%) males, 65 (43.9%) smear-positive TB, 24 (16.2%) smear-negative TB,
and 59 (39.9%) extra-pulmonary TB. Treatment-default was found in 7 (4.7%)
patients, out of these 3 patients (4.1%) were in "intervention group" and 4 patients
(5.4%) were in "control group", both groups were comparable with no
significant statistical difference (p = 0.983).
Conclusion: Number of treatment-default cases was lower in "intervention
group" than "control group", but this numerical difference was not significant
statistically.
Article Details
How to Cite
1.
Farooqi RJ, Ashraf S, Zaman M. THE ROLE OF MOBILE SMS-REMINDERS IN IMPROVING DRUGS COMPLIANCE IN PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTI-TB TREATMENT FROM DOTS PROGRAM. J Postgrad Med Inst [Internet]. 2017 May 12 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];31(2). Available from: https://jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/2037
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