Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Mobile Direct Observation Treatment for TB Patients (MDOTS)

last updated Apr 6, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Royal Tropical Institute
Implementation Partner(s): 
Changamka Microhealth Ltd.; Pumwani Maternity Hospital; Millennium Villages Project; The Earth Institute at Columbia University;
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2009
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Government
Funders: 
Royal Tropical Institute

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones › SMS/MMS (Text Message), Camera (Video/Photo)
Technology Purpose: 
Facilitating Patient Communications › Encouraging Patient Compliance, Improving Data Management
Technology Partner(s): 
Danya International, Inc.

Scale

Number of Clients Served: 
13 patients, 5 patient assistants, and 3 healthcare workers
Summary: 

This pilot used video-enabled mobile telephones to monitor patient adherence to TB medication, as well as to assess patient response to having both text and video health messages sent to them via the mobile phone.

Program goals/rationale: 

The goal of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of implementing mobile direct observation treatment (MDOT) via mobile telephones for patients with TB and to assess the acceptability of this type of technology from both the healthcare worker and patient perspective.

Key program components: 

Mobile telephones capable of sending and receiving video and text messages were provided to 13 patients diagnosed with TB. Patients and their assistants (relatives or friends in the home) were asked to video-capture the patient taking his or her dose of TB medications with the mobile phone. The video was then immediately transmitted to a central database where healthcare workers viewed the video of patients taking their medications as prescribed by DOT protocol. Patients also received health messages including video and text on their mobile phones. These messages included vignettes portraying recovered patients, testimonials from physicians, and TB prevention messages.

Additional Information

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MDOT Final Report.pdf433.53 KB
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