Reminder systems and late patient tracers in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis

Abstract

The included trials show significantly better outcomes among those tuberculosis patients for which late patient tracers and reminders are used. Studies of good quality (large and with rigorous study design) are needed to decide the most effective late patient tracer actions and reminders in different settings. Future studies of reminders in chemoprophylaxis and treatment settings would be useful.

TB tracer teams in South Africa: knowledge, practices and challenges of tracing TB patients to improve adherence

“…When a patient returns to the clinic, personnel at tracer facilities were more likely to discuss alternative DOTS arrangements with patients than non-tracer facilities. It is possible that these encounters assessed individual barriers to treatment adherence and identified mutually-agreeable methods for providing TB treatment to these patients, which would favor treatment adherence and successful outcomes [10]. …”

TB tracer teams in South Africa: knowledge, practices and challenges of tracing TB patients to improve adherence

“…When a patient returns to the clinic, personnel at tracer facilities were more likely to discuss alternative DOTS arrangements with patients than non-tracer facilities. It is possible that these encounters assessed individual barriers to treatment adherence and identified mutually-agreeable methods for providing TB treatment to these patients, which would favor treatment adherence and successful outcomes [10]. …”

Stay in treatment: Predicting dropout from pediatric weight management study protocol

“…Patients and families in the highest risk category (High Risk-defined as top quartile of dropout risk estimates) will be targeted for intervention. The Active intervention is based on evidence-based approaches [ [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [52] , [53] , [54] ]: Monitoring: Monthly query [ 22 ] of high-risk patients and families to determine if active (visit to or scheduled appointment with program in upcoming 4 weeks) or potentially inactive (no appointment in past 4 weeks and no appointment presently scheduled). Queries will be prepared by study staff and provided to the clinical team.…”

“… Awareness: Weekly notification of High Risk patients and families with upcoming clinic visit. Personalized contact [ 25 ] if patient cancels or does not arrive for appointment; brief phone call made during the scheduled clinic visit time, allowing patient/family to reschedule or discuss reasons for missed appointment [ 24 ]. Personalized mobile phone message (text, SMS): made by study staff the day before appointment [ 24 , 52 , 54 ].…”

“…Personalized mobile phone message (text, SMS): made by study staff the day before appointment [ 24 , 52 , 54 ]. Since this method may incur costs for some patients and families, it will be optional (“opt-in”).…”

Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: an overview of systematic reviews

“…The objectives and scope of included reviews varied, although almost half (35/75, 47%) primarily aimed to improve adherence to medicines or uptake of immunisations (Al-aqeel 2011; Bain-Brickley 2011; Amico 2006;Chivu 2008;De Bleser 2009;Ford 2009;Gleeson 2009;Gray 2009;Haynes 2008;Haywood 2009;Jacobson 2005;Lewin 2010;Liu 2008;Lutge 2012;Mahtani 2011;Mbuba 2008;McIntosh 2006;Odegard 2007;Olthoff 2005;Orton 2005;Oyo-Ita 2008;Rueda 2006;Russell 2006;Saini 2009;Schedlbauer 2010;Stone 2002;Thomas 2010;van Eijken 2003;Van Wijk 2005;Vergouwen 2003;Vermeire 2005;Volmink 2007;Zygmunt 2002). These reviews included a wide range of specific strategies, and although reviews most consistently reported on the interventions' effects on adherence, additional effects (outcomes) were also reported, such as clinical outcomes, adverse events, satisfaction, attitudes to medicines, quality of life, and costs.…”

TB tracer teams in South Africa: knowledge, practices and challenges of tracing TB patients to improve adherence

“…When a patient returns to the clinic, personnel at tracer facilities were more likely to discuss alternative DOTS arrangements with patients than non-tracer facilities. It is possible that these encounters assessed individual barriers to treatment adherence and identified mutually-agreeable methods for providing TB treatment to these patients, which would favor treatment adherence and successful outcomes [10]. …”

Stay in treatment: Predicting dropout from pediatric weight management study protocol

“…Patients and families in the highest risk category (High Risk-defined as top quartile of dropout risk estimates) will be targeted for intervention. The Active intervention is based on evidence-based approaches [ [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [52] , [53] , [54] ]: Monitoring: Monthly query [ 22 ] of high-risk patients and families to determine if active (visit to or scheduled appointment with program in upcoming 4 weeks) or potentially inactive (no appointment in past 4 weeks and no appointment presently scheduled). Queries will be prepared by study staff and provided to the clinical team.…”

“… Awareness: Weekly notification of High Risk patients and families with upcoming clinic visit. Personalized contact [ 25 ] if patient cancels or does not arrive for appointment; brief phone call made during the scheduled clinic visit time, allowing patient/family to reschedule or discuss reasons for missed appointment [ 24 ]. Personalized mobile phone message (text, SMS): made by study staff the day before appointment [ 24 , 52 , 54 ].…”

“…Personalized mobile phone message (text, SMS): made by study staff the day before appointment [ 24 , 52 , 54 ]. Since this method may incur costs for some patients and families, it will be optional (“opt-in”).…”

Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: an overview of systematic reviews

“…The objectives and scope of included reviews varied, although almost half (35/75, 47%) primarily aimed to improve adherence to medicines or uptake of immunisations (Al-aqeel 2011; Bain-Brickley 2011; Amico 2006;Chivu 2008;De Bleser 2009;Ford 2009;Gleeson 2009;Gray 2009;Haynes 2008;Haywood 2009;Jacobson 2005;Lewin 2010;Liu 2008;Lutge 2012;Mahtani 2011;Mbuba 2008;McIntosh 2006;Odegard 2007;Olthoff 2005;Orton 2005;Oyo-Ita 2008;Rueda 2006;Russell 2006;Saini 2009;Schedlbauer 2010;Stone 2002;Thomas 2010;van Eijken 2003;Van Wijk 2005;Vergouwen 2003;Vermeire 2005;Volmink 2007;Zygmunt 2002). These reviews included a wide range of specific strategies, and although reviews most consistently reported on the interventions' effects on adherence, additional effects (outcomes) were also reported, such as clinical outcomes, adverse events, satisfaction, attitudes to medicines, quality of life, and costs.…”

TB tracer teams in South Africa: knowledge, practices and challenges of tracing TB patients to improve adherence

“…When a patient returns to the clinic, personnel at tracer facilities were more likely to discuss alternative DOTS arrangements with patients than non-tracer facilities. It is possible that these encounters assessed individual barriers to treatment adherence and identified mutually-agreeable methods for providing TB treatment to these patients, which would favor treatment adherence and successful outcomes [10]. …”

Stay in treatment: Predicting dropout from pediatric weight management study protocol

“…Patients and families in the highest risk category (High Risk-defined as top quartile of dropout risk estimates) will be targeted for intervention. The Active intervention is based on evidence-based approaches [ [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [52] , [53] , [54] ]: Monitoring: Monthly query [ 22 ] of high-risk patients and families to determine if active (visit to or scheduled appointment with program in upcoming 4 weeks) or potentially inactive (no appointment in past 4 weeks and no appointment presently scheduled). Queries will be prepared by study staff and provided to the clinical team.…”

“… Awareness: Weekly notification of High Risk patients and families with upcoming clinic visit. Personalized contact [ 25 ] if patient cancels or does not arrive for appointment; brief phone call made during the scheduled clinic visit time, allowing patient/family to reschedule or discuss reasons for missed appointment [ 24 ]. Personalized mobile phone message (text, SMS): made by study staff the day before appointment [ 24 , 52 , 54 ].…”

“…Personalized mobile phone message (text, SMS): made by study staff the day before appointment [ 24 , 52 , 54 ]. Since this method may incur costs for some patients and families, it will be optional (“opt-in”).…”

Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: an overview of systematic reviews

“…The objectives and scope of included reviews varied, although almost half (35/75, 47%) primarily aimed to improve adherence to medicines or uptake of immunisations (Al-aqeel 2011; Bain-Brickley 2011; Amico 2006;Chivu 2008;De Bleser 2009;Ford 2009;Gleeson 2009;Gray 2009;Haynes 2008;Haywood 2009;Jacobson 2005;Lewin 2010;Liu 2008;Lutge 2012;Mahtani 2011;Mbuba 2008;McIntosh 2006;Odegard 2007;Olthoff 2005;Orton 2005;Oyo-Ita 2008;Rueda 2006;Russell 2006;Saini 2009;Schedlbauer 2010;Stone 2002;Thomas 2010;van Eijken 2003;Van Wijk 2005;Vergouwen 2003;Vermeire 2005;Volmink 2007;Zygmunt 2002). These reviews included a wide range of specific strategies, and although reviews most consistently reported on the interventions' effects on adherence, additional effects (outcomes) were also reported, such as clinical outcomes, adverse events, satisfaction, attitudes to medicines, quality of life, and costs.…”