Community trial of new methods in tuberculosis treatment management
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN46846388 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN46846388 |
| Protocol serial number | 51914 |
| Sponsor | China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China) |
| Funder | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Grant ref: 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
Plain English summary of protocol
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
Scientific
China Center for Disease Control and Prevention
No. 155 Changbai Road
Changping District
Beijing
102206
China
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Cluster randomized non-blinded controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Cluster randomized trial of using mobile text messaging and a medication monitor in tuberculosis (TB) case management |
| Study objectives | Innovative 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 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Tuberculosis |
| Intervention | This 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 type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
The mean proportion of months a patient has at least 3 doses missed (this is based on pill count data from the medication monitor box) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. The mean proportion of months a patient has at least 7 doses missed |
| Completion date | 31/08/2012 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 4176 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. 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 |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Does not meet inclusion criteria 2. Patients with tuberculosis pleurisy 3. Patients with no sputum smear data at tuberculosis diagnosis |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/06/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/08/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- China
Study participating centre
102206
China
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 15/09/2015 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
