Video-Observed Therapy Versus Directly Observed Therapy in Patients With Tuberculosis

Abstract

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence in the effects of video-observed therapy versus that of directly observed therapy on medication adherence, treatment completion, and tuberculosis resolution among patients with tuberculosis.

Methods: Potential studies were identified from MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHLdirect, and Cochrane from inception to February 1, 2021. Inclusion criteria included (1) tuberculosis-infected population, (2) video-observed therapy as an intervention, (3) directly observed therapy as the comparison group, and (4) patient's medication adherence or clinical outcomes. Data were collected in 2021. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted using Mantel-Haenszel methods with RR for dichotomous outcomes (medication adherence, treatment completion, and bacteriological resolution) and generic inverse variance methods with a weighted mean difference for continuous outcomes (proportion of doses observed).

Results: A total of 9 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Compared with patients receiving directly observed therapy, patients with video-observed therapy were associated with improved medication adherence (RR=2.79, 95% CI=2.26, 3.45, I²=25%), the proportion of doses observed (weighted mean difference=0.22, 95% CI=0.06, 0.39, I²=96%), and bacteriological resolution (RR=1.06, 95% CI=1.01, 1.11, I²=0%) but with similar treatment completion (RR=1.33, 95% CI=0.73, 2.43, I²=98%).

Discussion: Implementation of video-observed therapy improved medication adherence and bacteriological resolution compared with that of directly observed therapy in tuberculosis-infected patients.