mHealth and infectious disease: The opportunity for public health departments to treat tuberculosis remotely

Abstract

Results: There were 113 qualified respondents. Seventy-six percent (n=86) of respondents were using, implementing, or planning to use eDOT. Reported benefits were high and centered on patient and provider satisfaction, cost savings, and staff safety. Medication adherence and treatment completion rates of eDOT users were reported to be about the same or higher when compared to in-person DOT users. The primary technical concern about eDOT was internet connectivity; Health Insurance Portability and Accountability and confidentiality were the highest reported legal concerns. A majority of the respondents indicated that no reimbursement existed for eDOT or in-person DOT.