Open AccessReal-world implementation of video-observed therapy in an urban TB program in the United States
Author(s) -
Allison Perry,
Amit S. Chitnis,
Alexander F. Chin,
Christopher J. Hoffmann,
Larry W. Chang,
Matthew L. Robinson,
Gina Maltas,
Elizabeth Munk,
Maunank Shah
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease/the international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease. articles traduits en français ...
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.103
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1815-7920
pISSN - 1027-3719
DOI - 10.5588/ijtld.21.0170
Subject(s) - medicine , directly observed therapy , tuberculosis , pathology
BACKGROUND: Video directly observed therapy (vDOT) was introduced to increase flexibility and meet patient-specific needs for TB treatment. This study aimed to assess the reach and effectiveness of vDOT for TB treatment under routine conditions in Alameda County, CA, USA, a busy, urban setting, from 2018 to 2020. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated routinely collected data to estimate 1) reach (proportion of patients initiated on vDOT vs. in-person DOT); and 2) effectiveness (proportion of prescribed doses with verified administration by vDOT vs. in-person DOT). RESULTS: Among 163 TB patients, 94 (58%) utilized vDOT during treatment, of whom 54 (57%) received exclusively vDOT. Individuals receiving vDOT were on average younger than those receiving in-person therapy (46 vs. 61 years; P < 0.001). The median time to vDOT initiation was 2.2 weeks (IQR 1.1-10.0); patients were monitored for a median of 27.0 weeks (IQR 24.6-31.9). vDOT led to higher proportions of verified prescribed doses than in-person DOT (68% vs. 54%; P < 0.001). Unobserved self-administration occurred for all patients on weekends based on clinic instructions, but a larger proportion of doses were self-administered during periods of in-person DOT than of vDOT (45% vs. 24%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A TB program successfully maintained vDOT, reaching the majority of patients and achieving greater medication verification than in-person DOT.