M Starr1, S M Sawyer1, J B Carlin1, Cve Powell1, R G Newman1, Pdr Johnson1. 1. Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases,,Centre for Adolescent Health,,Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit,,Department of Thoracic Medicine,,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of a microelectronic tablet-dispenser for monitoring adherence to preventive therapy for tuberculosis infection in adolescents. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one patients with positive Mantoux tests were treated with isoniazid (INH), dispensed in a microelectronic tablet-dispenser that recorded the date, time and duration that the container was opened. Other measures of adherence included attendance at clinic, patient self-report, tablet count, and measurement of urinary INH metabolites. RESULTS: The mean adherence rates were: 83% using attendance at clinic, 91% using tablet counts, 79% using urine assays, and 66% using the electronic tablet-dispenser. Self-reporting appeared to over-estimate adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to 6 months of INH calculated using different measures is higher in this study than in previous reports. Microelectronic tablet-dispensers are an effective method to objectively measure adherence on a daily basis. Other measures are less helpful.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of a microelectronic tablet-dispenser for monitoring adherence to preventive therapy for tuberculosis infection in adolescents. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one patients with positive Mantoux tests were treated with isoniazid (INH), dispensed in a microelectronic tablet-dispenser that recorded the date, time and duration that the container was opened. Other measures of adherence included attendance at clinic, patient self-report, tablet count, and measurement of urinary INH metabolites. RESULTS: The mean adherence rates were: 83% using attendance at clinic, 91% using tablet counts, 79% using urine assays, and 66% using the electronic tablet-dispenser. Self-reporting appeared to over-estimate adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to 6 months of INH calculated using different measures is higher in this study than in previous reports. Microelectronic tablet-dispensers are an effective method to objectively measure adherence on a daily basis. Other measures are less helpful.
Entities:
Keywords:
adherence; child; drug monitoring; isoniazid; tuberculosis
Authors: Melbourne F Hovell; Katharine E Schmitz; Elaine J Blumberg; Linda Hill; Carol Sipan; Lawrence Friedman Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Commun Date: 2018-08-16