Extra help with TB medicines improved results, but studies varied.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   The review covered 129 studies, some trials and some that followed groups over time. The people were adults and children on TB treatment.

2. 02

   What they did

   Studies compared extra support with routine care. The support was reminders, rewards or teaching. Others compared a health worker or family member watching each dose with taking medicines alone.

3. 03

   What happened

   In trials, reminders helped more people finish TB treatment, and rewards or help with costs did too, by small amounts. Teaching did not change treatment success in trials. It did help more people attend all their appointments in one trial.

What the review found

1. Helped

   Across 4 trials, reminders and contact after missed doses helped more people succeed at TB treatment.

   • Rule: Get a remindertested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs routine care without reminders · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

2. Helped

   Across 3 trials, rewards and help with costs or travel helped more people succeed at TB treatment.

   • Rule: Get a reward or payment for doing ittested

   Pooled analysis of 3 studies · vs routine care without rewards or help · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

3. Helped

   In one trial, teaching about TB helped more people attend all their appointments.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested

   Pooled analysis of 1 study · vs routine care without teaching · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

Source