Appraising perception, accessibility and uptake of DAT among patients with TB

• Published in: Public health action Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 66 - 70
• Main Authors: Ogbudebe, C., Odume, B., Gordon, I., Chukwuogo, O., Nwokoye, N., Useni, S., Efo, E., Gidado, M., Aniwada, E., Ihesie, A., Nongo, D., Eneogu, R., Chijioke-Akaniro, O., Anyaike, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 01.06.2024; The Union
• Subjects: Digital Adherence Technology, Africa; Original; Tuberculosis
• ISSN: 2220-8372; 2220-8372
• DOI: 10.5588/pha.24.0009

INTRODUCTION Poor adherence to TB treatment poses a significant public health threat to TB control programmes. The sustainability of directly observed treatment has been questioned because of its non-patient-centred approach and resource-intensive nature, and Digital Adherence Technologies (DATs) provide a suitable alternative. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of DATs among patients with TB. METHODS This descriptive study was conducted in eight states in Nigeria among all patients with drug-susceptible TB. RESULT A total of 230 patients (89.1%) own a phone that no one else uses, and 18 (7.0%) use a family phone. A higher proportion of 189 (73.3%) have airtime credit and 119 (46.1%) have internet credit on their phone. In addition, 216 (83.7%) stated that the reminders they received on their phone helped them remember to take their medicine. Only 11 (4.3%) patients missed a dose of the TB medicine. Equally, 11 (4.3%) patients had taken their TB medicine without using DAT. Of these, 7 (63.3%) did not use DATs because they forgot to text medication labels, and 3 (27.6%) did so because of poor network. Only four (1.6%) purchased additional items to support the use of DATs. CONCLUSION DATs are acceptable in a wide variety of settings, even with reported challenges. Implementation efforts should ensure access, address technical challenges, and minimise additional cost to patients.