P-1399. Medication Event Reminder Monitors For Tuberculosis Patients: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This review examines how medication reminder monitors improve tuberculosis treatment adherence and outcomes compared to traditional methods.

Contribution

The study systematically evaluates the effectiveness of Medication Event Reminder Monitors (MERM) in TB treatment adherence and clinical outcomes.

Findings

MERM improves medication adherence and treatment success in TB patients.

Factors like age, gender, and HIV status influence adherence outcomes with MERM.

MERM is more effective than directly observed therapy in reducing loss to follow-up.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) treatment involves prolonged regimens that often lead to poor adherence and unfavorable outcomes. Various strategies, including directly observed therapy (DOT), incentives, and digital adherence technologies (DATs), have been employed to address this challenge. This systematic review evaluates the impact of Medication Event Reminder Monitors (MERM) on medication adherence, clinical outcomes, and satisfaction among TB patients and healthcare providers.

We systematically searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to 16 February 2023. Eligible studies included cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, randomized/non-randomized trials, and qualitative studies. Two authors independently screened the studies and assessed quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies.

Eight studies were included: three clinical trials, four prospective studies, and one cross-sectional study, comprising 76,811 TB patients (31.62% female). MERM was found to be a well-accepted and effective tool for improving adherence. Factors influencing adherence included age, gender, occupation, residence, HIV status, and TB diagnosis type. Studies reported higher treatment success and lower loss to follow-up with MERM compared to DOT.

While MERM shows promise in improving adherence and outcomes, acceptance varies due to factors such as side effects and usability. Its potential is significant, especially in high-burden TB countries, but further research is needed to evaluate long-term impact and optimize implementation strategies.

All Authors: No reported disclosures