Community trial of new methods in tuberculosis treatment management

ISRCTN ISRCTN46846388
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN46846388
Secondary identifying numbers 51914
Submission date
28/05/2011
Registration date
21/07/2011
Last edited
16/09/2015
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. China has the second largest number of TB cases in the world, next only to India. New technology such as medication monitoring and mobile phone text messaging may provide a good opportunity for improving the treatment of TB . The aim of this study to find out whether mobile text messaging and medication monitoring can improve adherence to TB medication and the outcomes of TB treatment.

Who can participate?
Newly registered TB patients aged 18 and over from 36 districts/counties in four provinces (Chongqing, Hubei, Jiangsu and Heilongjiang) in China.

What does the study involve?
The 36 districts/counties are randomly allocated to one of four groups. In the first group patients are provided with mobile phones. On medication intake days patients are sent a short message service (SMS) to remind them to take their medication. They respond with a brief message when they have taken their medication. Doctors in the TB dispensary collect the SMS feedback from patients to assess how many doses are missed in a month. Based on the number of missed doses, there will be additional visits from the township/village doctor. In the second group patients are provided with a medication monitor box with reminding functions. This tool is used to remind patients to take their tuberculosis medication and also records drug intake. Doctors at the TB dispensary collect the drug intake record from the medication monitor monthly to assess how many doses are missed in a month. Based on the number of missed doses, there will be additional visits from the township/village doctor. In the third group patients are provided with both the mobile phone and the medication monitor box to remind them to take their medication and to record drug intake. The drug intake record from the medication monitor and SMS from patients are collected monthly, and the number of doses missed in a month is calculated using the drug intake record of the medication monitor. Based on the number of missed doses, there will be additional visits from the township/village doctor. In the fourth group patients are managed based on the current standard of care.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no major risks in taking part in the study.

Where is the study run from?
36 districts/counties in four provinces (Chongqing, Hubei, Jiangsu and Heilongjiang) in China.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2011 to August 2012.

Who is funding the study?
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA).

Who is the main contact?
Shiwen Jiang
jiangsw@chinatb.org

Contact information

Prof Shiwen Jiang
Scientific

China Center for Disease Control and Prevention
No. 155 Changbai Road
Changping District
Beijing
102206
China

Study information

Study designCluster randomized non-blinded controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designCluster randomised trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleCluster randomized trial of using mobile text messaging and a medication monitor in tuberculosis (TB) case management
Study hypothesisInnovative approaches for enhancing TB patient treatment management such as mobile text messaging and medication monitor can improve adherence to TB medication and outcomes of TB treatment
Ethics approval(s)1. Ethical Review Committee of China CDC. 12/07/2010, ref: 201008
2. London School of Hygiene and Topical Medicine Ethics Committee, 23/06/2010, ref: 5704
ConditionTuberculosis
InterventionThis is a cluster randomised non blinded trial. Clusters are defined as a county or district. This is a four armed trial, three intervention arms and one control arm:
1. Mobile phone
Patients are provided with mobile phones as a reminding tool to take their tuberculosis medication. On medication intake days patients are sent a SMS to remind them to take their medication. They respond with a brief message when medication is taken. Doctors in TB dispensary collect the SMS feedback from patients to assess how many doses are missed in a month. Based on the missed doses, additional intervention and incentive mechanisms are implemented such as visits from the township/village doctor and incentives per visit given to the township/village doctor.
2. Medication monitor
Patients are provided with a medication monitor box with reminding functions. This tool is used to remind patients to their tuberculosis medication and also records drug intake. Doctors at the TB dispensary collect the drug intake record from medication monitor monthly to assess that how many doses are missed in a month. Based on the missed doses, additional intervention and incentive mechanism are implemented as described in the mobile phone intervention (1)
3. Mobile phone and medication monitor
Patients are provided with both the mobile phone and medication monitor box with reminding function for as tools for communication, reminding and recording drug intake. The drugs intake record from medication monitor and SMS from patients are collected monthly, and the number of doses missed in a month is calculated using the drug intake record of the medication monitor. Based on the missed doses, additional intervention and incentive mechanism are implemented as described in the mobile phone intervention (1)
4. Control
Patients are managed based on the current standard of care.

All patients will be followed up to the end of tuberculosis treatment.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureThe mean proportion of months a patient has at least 3 doses missed (this is based on pill count data from the medication monitor box)
Secondary outcome measures1. The mean proportion of months a patient has at least 7 doses missed
2. The mean proportion of overall missed doses
3. Proportion of patients defined as non-adherent (at least 10% of doses missed)
4. Proportion of patients defaulting during TB treatment
5. Proportion of smear positive TB cases who become smear negative at 2 months
6. The proportion of patients with treatment outcome of cure or completed treatment
Overall study start date01/06/2011
Overall study end date31/08/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants4176 (116 per cluster; 9 clusters per arm; 4 arms)
Participant inclusion criteria1. TB patients, smear-positive or smear-negative, recruited from the study clusters (county/district)
2. Willing to participate in the study
3. Conscious without any mental disease
4. Conscious without any visual, auditory or language impairment
5. At least 18 years old
6. Patient or family member is able to read a short message service (SMS)/ text and use medication monitor after training
Participant exclusion criteria1. Does not meet inclusion criteria
2. Patients with tuberculosis pleurisy
3. Patients with no sputum smear data at tuberculosis diagnosis
Recruitment start date01/06/2011
Recruitment end date31/08/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • China

Study participating centre

China Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Beijing
102206
China

Sponsor information

China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China)
Government

No. 155 Changbai Road
Changping District
Beijing
102206
China

Website http://www.chinatb.org/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04wktzw65

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Grant ref: 51914)
Government organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Alternative name(s)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, BMGF, B&MGF, GF
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 15/09/2015 Yes No