Trial reportBMJ open2025
Improving tuberculosis treatment adherence: a qualitative study of patients' perspectives from a pragmatic trial of the tuberculosis treatment support tools intervention.
Trial report in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04221789 (TB Treatment Support Tools), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
TB Treatment Support Tools: Refinement and Evaluation of an Interactive Mobile App and Direct Adherence Monitoring on TB Treatment Outcomes
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo explore patient perspectives on using a digital adherence technology (DAT) for tuberculosis (TB) treatment, specifically, the TB Treatment Support Tools (TB-TST) intervention, which integrates a mobile app designed to enhance patient-centred support, monitoring and communication, alongside a drug metabolite test.
designQualitative study conducted as part of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. SETTING AND
participantsFour public reference hospitals in Argentina. All patients in the intervention group were invited to participate; 33 patients in the intervention group and five treatment supporters were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: semistructured interviews were conducted. The normalisation process theory guided analysis to understand factors that enable or hinder the intervention's integration into routine practice for TB treatment medication adherence.
resultsPatients identified medication reminders, educational messages and direct communication with treatment supporters (TSs) as the most helpful components of the intervention. Many reported using the app to ask TSs questions they felt uncomfortable raising with physicians in person. Initially, many patients did not fully understand the purpose and use of the metabolite test. Over time, their understanding of the app improved, though some continued to misinterpret the test results. Motivation to adhere to TB treatment was primarily driven by a desire to protect family members and resume normal daily activities. Reported barriers to app use included time constraints due to work, technical issues, limited internet connectivity and the burden of medication side effects. While the intervention was generally perceived as supportive and user-friendly, patients suggested improvements such as faster response times from TSs, expanded availability and better technical reliability and internet access.
conclusionThese findings highlight the importance of tailoring digital adherence interventions to meet the diverse needs of patients and reinforce the pivotal role of the TS as a trusted and accessible source of guidance throughout TB treatment. TRIAL REGISTERATION NUMBER: NCT04221789; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04221789.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.