DOT Selfie: A Mobile Technology Intervention to Evaluate Treatment Adherence Among Tuberculosis Patients

This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine whether Video Observed Treatment (VDOT) using social internet bundle incentives for tuberculosis (TB) is an effective way to improve medication adherence in TB treatment, compared with standard in-person treatment (home-/ community-based).

The study will include two study arms: one will receive TB treatment using the standard in-person DOT, and the other through VDOT. All patients (regardless of study arm) will receive daily TB treatment under home- or community-based observation . For patients in the In-person DOT arm, this will be observed and recorded daily by a study nurse. Patients in the VDOT arm however, will be required to record and upload their daily medication intake using a mobile phone App. As a form of incentive, these patients will be rewarded with social internet bundles for every 7 consecutive video uploads. Additionally, they will be sent motivational text messages to encourage treatment compliance.

Regardless of study arm, all patients will have 2,4, and 6 monthly clinic visits for clinical and/or sputum assessments. Each patient will also complete a Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) questionnaire at treatment completion.