Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Angels Compassion Research and Development Initiative, Mbarara, Uganda.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 May 31;11:e47996. doi: 10.2196/47996.
BACKGROUND: Complementing digital adherence technologies (DATs) with mobile money incentives may improve their utility in supporting tuberculosis medication adherence, yet the feasibility and acceptability of this integrated approach remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the feasibility and acceptability of a novel DAT intervention called My Mobile Wallet composed of real-time adherence monitoring, SMS text message reminders, and mobile money incentives for tuberculosis medication adherence in a low-income setting. METHODS: We purposively recruited people living with tuberculosis from the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Mbarara, Uganda, who (1) were starting tuberculosis treatment at enrollment or within the past 4 weeks, (2) owned a mobile phone, (3) were able to use SMS test messaging, (4) were aged ≥18 years, and (5) were living in Mbarara district. At study exit (month 6), we used interviews and questionnaires informed by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to collect feasibility and acceptability data, reflecting patients' experiences of using each component of My Mobile Wallet. Feasibility also included tracking the functionality of the adherence monitor (ie, an electronic pillbox) as well as SMS text message and mobile money delivery. We used a content analytical approach to inductively analyze qualitative data and Stata (version 13; StataCorp LLC) to analyze quantitative data. RESULTS: All 39 participants reported that the intervention was feasible because it was easy for them to use (eg, access and read SMS text messages) and worked as expected. Almost all SMS text messages (6880/7064, 97.4%) were sent as planned. The transmission of adherence data from the monitor worked well, with 98.37% (5682/5776) of the data transmitted as planned. All participants additionally reported that the intervention was acceptable because it helped them take their tuberculosis medication as prescribed; the mobile money incentives relieved them of tuberculosis-related financial burdens; SMS text message reminders and electronic pillbox-based alarms reminded them to take their medication on time; and participants perceived real-time adherence monitoring as "being watched" while taking their medication, which encouraged them to take their medication on time to demonstrate their commitment. The intervention was perceived as a sign of care, which eventually created emotional support and a sense of connectedness to health care. Participants preferred daily SMS text message reminders (32/39, 82%) to reminders linked to missed doses (7/39, 18%), citing the fact that tuberculosis medication is taken daily. CONCLUSIONS: The use of real-time adherence monitoring linked to SMS text message reminders and mobile money incentives for tuberculosis medication adherence was feasible and acceptable in a low-resource setting where poverty-based structural barriers heavily constrain tuberculosis treatment and care.
背景:在数字依从技术(DAT)的基础上增加移动货币激励措施可能会提高其在支持结核病药物依从性方面的实用性,但这种综合方法的可行性和可接受性仍不清楚。
目的:本研究旨在描述一种名为“My Mobile Wallet”的新型 DAT 干预措施的可行性和可接受性,该措施由实时依从性监测、短信文本消息提醒和移动货币激励措施组成,用于支持低收入环境中的结核病药物依从性。
方法:我们有目的地招募了来自乌干达姆巴拉拉地区转诊医院的结核病患者,他们(1)在入组时或过去 4 周内开始结核病治疗,(2)拥有移动电话,(3)能够使用短信测试消息,(4)年龄≥18 岁,(5)居住在姆巴拉拉区。在研究结束时(第 6 个月),我们使用访谈和问卷调查,这些问卷是基于统一的接受和使用技术理论(UTAUT)制定的,以收集可行性和可接受性数据,反映患者使用“My Mobile Wallet”每个组件的体验。可行性还包括跟踪依从性监测器(即电子药盒)以及短信文本消息和移动货币交付的功能。我们使用内容分析方法对定性数据进行归纳分析,并使用 Stata(版本 13;StataCorp LLC)对定量数据进行分析。
结果:所有 39 名参与者都报告说,该干预措施是可行的,因为他们很容易使用(例如,访问和阅读短信文本消息)并且按预期工作。几乎所有的短信文本消息(6880/7064,97.4%)都按计划发送。监测器传输依从性数据的工作也很好,98.37%(5682/5776)的数据按计划传输。所有参与者还报告说,该干预措施是可以接受的,因为它帮助他们按照规定服用结核病药物;移动货币激励减轻了他们与结核病相关的经济负担;短信文本消息提醒和基于电子药盒的警报提醒他们按时服药;并且参与者认为实时依从性监测在服药时“被监视”,这鼓励他们按时服药以表明他们的承诺。该干预措施被视为一种关怀的标志,最终为他们提供了情感支持,并与医疗保健建立了联系。参与者更喜欢每天的短信文本消息提醒(32/39,82%)而不是与错过剂量相关的提醒(7/39,18%),这是因为结核病药物每天都要服用。
结论:在贫困地区,基于贫困的结构性障碍严重限制结核病治疗和护理的情况下,使用实时依从性监测与短信文本消息提醒和移动货币激励措施相结合来促进结核病药物依从性是可行和可接受的。
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