Jason Charles Simon Chandramohan, Anusha Krishna, Mahesh Krishna, Ramasubramanian Ramachandran, Kaliraj Perumal, Selvaraj Vimalraj
Biostatistics, Sundaram Medical Devices Private Limited, Mylapore, IND.
Research, Sundaram Medical Devices Private Limited, Mylapore, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 17;16(9):e69611. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69611. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating strict adherence to medication for successful treatment and prevention of drug resistance. Adherence to a regular medication regimen is crucial in TB management, yet achieving high adherence rates among patients proves challenging due to various factors including forgetfulness, complexity of treatment schedules, and socioeconomic barriers. This study explores the potential of an automatic medicine dispenser (AMD) anchored system to improve medication adherence among TB patients and evaluates its impact through monitoring and feedback mechanisms. The AMD integrates advanced technology to dispense medications at scheduled times, thereby reducing reliance on patient memory and manual adherence tracking. This device is complemented by a monitoring system where healthcare mentors oversee adherence data in real-time via a web-linked dashboard. Such real-time monitoring enables mentors to promptly intervene in cases of non-adherence, offering personalized support and guidance tailored to individual patient needs. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of adherence rates derived from the AMD anchored system with qualitative data from patient surveys. These surveys gather insights into patient experiences and perceptions regarding the use of the AMD anchored system, including feedback on the accuracy of medication intake recorded by the device. Data obtained from the surveys are analyzed alongside adherence metrics from the dashboard to elucidate factors influencing adherence behavior and the device's effectiveness in fostering sustained treatment adherence. Preliminary findings indicate promising outcomes associated with the AMD anchored system intervention. High rates of adherence are observed among patients utilizing the device, attributed to the device's automated dispensing mechanism and the supportive role of healthcare mentors. Challenges such as technical malfunctions and patient acceptance are also identified, prompting continuous refinement of the AMD and mentorship strategies. In conclusion, the integration of an AMD coupled with real-time monitoring through a web-linked dashboard represents a significant advancement in TB treatment adherence management. Future research should focus on the scalability and sustainability of this technology-augmented, holistic approach across diverse healthcare settings to maximize its impact on global TB management strategies.
结核病仍然是一项重大的全球卫生挑战，要成功治疗并预防耐药性，必须严格坚持用药。在结核病管理中，坚持常规用药方案至关重要，但由于包括健忘、治疗方案复杂以及社会经济障碍等多种因素，要在患者中实现高依从率颇具挑战。本研究探讨了基于自动发药机（AMD）的系统在提高结核病患者用药依从性方面的潜力，并通过监测和反馈机制评估其影响。该自动发药机集成了先进技术，能在预定时间发放药物，从而减少对患者记忆和手动依从性跟踪的依赖。此设备还辅以一个监测系统，医疗指导人员可通过网络连接的仪表板实时监督依从性数据。这种实时监测使指导人员能够在不依从的情况下迅速干预，根据患者的个体需求提供个性化支持和指导。该研究采用混合方法，将对基于自动发药机系统得出的依从率进行定量分析与患者调查的定性数据相结合。这些调查收集了患者对使用基于自动发药机系统的体验和看法，包括对该设备记录的药物摄入准确性的反馈。将从调查中获得的数据与仪表板上的依从性指标一起进行分析，以阐明影响依从行为的因素以及该设备在促进持续治疗依从性方面的有效性。初步研究结果表明，基于自动发药机的系统干预产生了令人鼓舞的结果。使用该设备的患者中观察到了高依从率，这归因于该设备的自动发药机制以及医疗指导人员的支持作用。还发现了诸如技术故障和患者接受度等挑战，促使对自动发药机和指导策略不断进行改进。总之，自动发药机与通过网络连接的仪表板进行实时监测相结合，代表了结核病治疗依从性管理的重大进展。未来的研究应关注这种技术增强的整体方法在不同医疗环境中的可扩展性和可持续性，以最大限度地扩大其对全球结核病管理策略的影响。
