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The effects of war on digital adherence technology engagement for TB treatment in Ukraine

Deyanova N, McQuaid CF, Kochanov V, Bogdanov A, Madden N, Charalambous S, van Kalmthout K, Jerene D, Fielding KL, Gamazina K.

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Background

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has disrupted TB care. We examine the effects of the war on people with drug-susceptible TB (PWTB) and health care worker (HCW) engagement with a digital adherence technology (DAT).

Objective

This study aimed to assess whether the HCW’s interaction with the adherence platform data on patient engagement with the pillbox has changed over the war periods and geographical areas, in the intervention arm of the ASCENT trial in Ukraine.

Methods and Analysis

We conducted a cluster-randomised trial of a DAT intervention in Ukraine. In the intervention arm, PWTB received a pillbox with a daily treatment reminder. Pillbox openings were captured real-time onto a platform, accessed by HCWs who could add manual doses where relevant. We compared DAT engagement in pre-, early-, and later-war periods.