Video DOT and Economic Incentives to promote adherence to LTBI therapy
Summary
We propose to evaluate novel and scalable smartphone enabled interventions to promote completion of treatment for latent TB. Video-directly observed therapy (vDOT) provides multi-faceted adherence support by allowing real-time monitoring of adherence coupled with case-management feedback, is available in patient's preferred languages, and delivers electronic reminders. Likewise, behavior economic (financial) incentives, in which patients receive incentives contingent on ingesting prescribed medications, could mitigate financial stress associated with medical care and lost wages, a common concern among many patients with latent TB infection. If this intervention is effective in promoting completion of treatment for latent TB and is economically sound, it could prove to be a scalable and effective intervention to promote completion of treatment for latent TB in high-risk populations in Baltimore and in other populations around the world.