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Adherence, PatientLEAP-TB-SANCT04298905

Leveraging mHealth to Enable and Adapt CHW Strategies to Improve TB/HIV Patient Outcomes in SA

A study testing CHW mHealth patient intervention for trigger escalation in people with Adherence, Patient and TB, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

mHealth solutions designed to support affordable human resources for health, such as community health workers (CHWs), offer the opportunity to reimagine a patient-centered, system-level solution that may radically change care models in low resource settings. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Adherence, Patient, TB, HIV/AIDS
What is being tested?
CHW mHealth patient intervention for trigger escalation
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
62 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
10 Mar 2022to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Any person 18 years of age or older with pulmonary TB
  • HIV positive
  • Outpatient TB treatment (including short course RR-TB treatment) or admission < 30 days is expected

Who cannot join

  • Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent, including inability to consent in one of the approved languages
  • Patients who require hospitalization for TB treatment at treatment initiation
  • Extrapulmonary or disseminated TB disease
  • Severe clinical presentation: BMI < 18 kg/m2 or a person unable to stand/walk

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Kelly Lowensen

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21224-3750

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Leveraging mHealth to Enable and Adapt Community Health Worker Strategies to Improve TB/HIV Patient Outcomes in South Africa (LEAP-TB-SA) Trial

mHealth solutions designed to support affordable human resources for health, such as community health workers (CHWs), offer the opportunity to reimagine a patient-centered, system-level solution that may radically change care models in low resource settings. The 'leap' of m-health is most potent and practical in settings where desktop-based infrastructure is lacking and hard-wired internet connectivity is unavailable.

Investigators have demonstrated the feasibility of mHealth and human resource solutions in South Africa and shown marked improvements in screening, linkage and treatment initiation as well as supporting patient adherence through video DOT (vDOT) and early identification of treatment related toxicity. Investigators' strategies have evaluated solutions for individual cascade steps through TB and HIV smartphone and tablet-based m-health applications implemented by a CHW. This study combines these individual cascade step approaches into an innovative TB/HIV cascade intervention study entitled, "Leveraging mHealth to enable and adapt community health worker strategies to improve TB/HIV patient outcomes in South Africa (LEAP-TB-SA) Trial."

Read the detailed description

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death for persons living with HIV (PLWH) in South Africa (SA). Estimates suggest that if factoring in immediate lost to follow-up, a mere 52% of TB/HIV co-infected individuals have successful treatment outcomes. Factors contributing to this bleak reality occur throughout the TB/HIV cascade and include: limited capacity for TB screening; delays in linkage or failure to link into care; treatment non-adherence; and long and toxic treatment regimens that lead to disengagement in care. Reducing mortality and improving TB treatment outcomes among PLWH requires system-level, patient-centered interventions that enhance movement along both cascades. Through innovative mobile health (mHealth) approaches, designed to optimize human resources, and create efficiency for all users and engage patients in care, it is possible to reduce system bottlenecks and rapidly improve treatment outcomes.

Studies addressing the TB or HIV care cascades are increasingly common, yet few offer an integrated, sustainable approach to TB/HIV co-infection and, to date, no intervention spans the entire cascade. The TB/HIV care cascade begins with diagnosis of TB in a PLWH or in a person newly diagnosed with both diseases. Patients newly diagnosed with TB and HIV face a burdensome model of care influenced by: a) timing of HIV treatment initiation; b) worsened symptom profiles associated with immune reconstitution syndrome; c) higher pill burden; d) differential adherence challenges; e) and more frequent care visits for directly observed therapy (DOT) and laboratory evaluations. Many, have struggled with adherence to HIV regimen, prior to the TB diagnosis. Data found that 44% of PLWH on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) present with viral suppression to first TB visit, suggesting the need to further intensify adherence interventions in this group.

Hypothesis: The intervention will have fewer composite negative TB outcomes (i.e. treatment failure, loss to follow-up, and death) compared to attention controls.

Primary Aims:

  1. to determine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a mHealth triggered, escalating adherence intervention by community health workers (CHW) to improve rif-resistant (RR)-TB treatment outcomes among PLWH in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Province of South Africa through a pilot randomized controlled trial. H1. the mHealth triggered, escalating adherence intervention by CHW's will improve treatment success for RR-TB and HIV co-infected patients compared to attention control participants.

Secondary Aims:

  1. to conduct a time-limited prospective screening cohort of close contacts of persons diagnosed with RR-TB using respondent driven sampling.
  2. to evaluate willingness to participate in the trial and determine who screen fails for any reason.
  3. to evaluate study process indicators to further refine the behavioral and technological components of the intervention (patient symptom reporting; vDOT submission compliance; CHW adherence coaching sessions; intervention theoretical models; and mHealth application feature enhancements to support care coordination).
  4. to characterize the emergence of resistance among patients with non-adherence to RR-TB treatment, by obtaining two additional sputum specimens (i.e., 1) on treatment initiation for all patients and 2) among participants with a 30-day period of less than optimal adherence (defined as <90% of vDOT submissions or patient/provider report non-adherence) and/or treatment failure (defined as positive culture with evidence of additional antimicrobial resistance) to fully characterize resistance patterns through genotypic and phenotypic resistance testing as well as next generation molecular sequencing.
  5. to characterize HIV genotypic resistance patterns among participants with a detectable viral load.
  6. to determine, retrospectively, the impact of HIV resistance patterns on RR-TB treatment outcomes.
  7. to assess stigma throughout the RR-TB care continuum and evaluate whether the level of stigma changes through different phases of treatment.
  8. to pilot test the psychometric properties of four novel indicators of intersectional RR- TB-HIV stigma.
Being tested
CHW mHealth patient intervention for trigger escalation
Keywords
mHealth, community health worker, TB/HIV
Medical subject headings
Patient Compliance, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CHW mHealth patient intervention for trigger escalationOther

    The CHW dashboard is a tablet-based, per-patient summary of the patient intervention. It is this dashboard that identifies a trigger to escalate the adherence intervention. This dashboard is created by receiving information from the patient's smartphone application as well as the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) data feed of laboratory results. The monitoring features included in this dashboard:

    1. NHLS laboratory results: Dashboard receives and flags NHLS results for any positive smear or culture (new positive after prior negative results) or detectable viral load (with prior viral suppression)
    2. Triggered, escalating adherence coaching:
    3. Safety monitoring: reports all abnormal laboratory values to provider
    4. Appointment keeping (RETAIN):
    5. Triggered, escalating adherence coaching
    6. vDOT submissions:
    7. Triggered, escalating adherence coaching
    8. Symptom reports:
    9. Triggered, escalating adherence coaching
Study groups in NCT04298905
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Standard of CareNo interventionIndividuals randomized to standard of care will receive a standardized adherence education session and provided with a paper-based diary to track appointments and adherence. Instructions will be provided on the importance of daily adherence in the primary health care facility closest to patients' residence, as per standard of care. Directly observed therapy (DOT) is recommended for all patients at patients' nearest clinic. All patients are seen face-to-face monthly for adherence monitoring, monthly symptom reports and laboratory evaluations per standard of care treatment guidelines. All research participants will also receive a clinic visit quality checklist to ensure completeness of standard of care procedures.
mHealth interventionActive comparatorIndividuals randomized to the intervention arm will receive the same standardized adherence education, followed by an orientation session to the study intervention. This orientation will include education on basic smartphone operations and use. The CHW will set up appointment reminders for clinic visits as well as daily adherence reminders for submission of the video DOT sessions and symptom reports. A smartphone capable of downloading apps, receiving short message service (SMS) and access wifi and cellular connectivity will be provided to intervention patients. All patients are seen face-to-face monthly for adherence monitoring, monthly symptom reports and laboratory evaluations per standard of care treatment guidelines. All research participants will also receive a clinic visit quality checklist to ensure completeness of standard of care procedures.
Receives: Other: CHW mHealth patient intervention for trigger escalation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of participants with treatment success

    Treatment success is defined as cure and completion of treatment.

    Measured: Up to 12 months

  2. Number of deaths among participants

    Number of death (all causes) among participants will be assessed.

    Measured: Up to 12 months

  3. Number of participants with treatment failure

    Treatment failure is defined as worsening antimicrobial resistance.

    Measured: Up to 12 months

  4. Number of participants lost to follow-up

    Loss to follow-up is defined as 2 or more consecutive months of missed treatment.

    Measured: Up to 12 months

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Time to linkage to care

    Time (days) to linkage to care for TB.

    Measured: Up to 30 days

  2. Time to treatment initiation

    Time (days) to treatment initiation for TB.

    Measured: Up to 30 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Mar 2020
  2. Study start10 Mar 2022
  3. Primary completion31 May 2025
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Study design overview: LEAP-TB-SA is a pilot randomized controlled trial. There are two arms: mHealth intervention (100) and health education control (100).
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
62 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04298905
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB00211518
Acronym
LEAP-TB-SA
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
4 Mar 2020
Last updated
29 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Geneva. Global Tuberculosis Report 2018.; 2018. doi:ISBN 978 92 4 156539 4

  • Naidoo P, Theron G, Rangaka MX, Chihota VN, Vaughan L, Brey ZO, Pillay Y. The South African Tuberculosis Care Cascade: Estimated Losses and Methodological Challenges. J Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 6;216(suppl_7):S702-S713. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix335.

    PubMed 29117342
  • Seid A, Metaferia Y. Factors associated with treatment delay among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Dessie city and surroundings, Northern Central Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2018 Jul 28;18(1):931. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5823-9.

    PubMed 30055593
  • Takarinda KC, Harries AD, Nyathi B, Ngwenya M, Mutasa-Apollo T, Sandy C. Tuberculosis treatment delays and associated factors within the Zimbabwe national tuberculosis programme. BMC Public Health. 2015 Jan 29;15:29. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1437-7.

    PubMed 25631667
  • Meintjes G, Schoeman H, Morroni C, Wilson D, Maartens G. Patient and provider delay in tuberculosis suspects from communities with a high HIV prevalence in South Africa: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis. 2008 May 25;8:72. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-8-72.

    PubMed 18501019
  • Gebremariam MK, Bjune GA, Frich JC. Barriers and facilitators of adherence to TB treatment in patients on concomitant TB and HIV treatment: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. 2010 Oct 28;10:651. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-651.

    PubMed 21029405
  • Naidoo P, Peltzer K, Louw J, Matseke G, McHunu G, Tutshana B. Predictors of tuberculosis (TB) and antiretroviral (ARV) medication non-adherence in public primary care patients in South Africa: a cross sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2013 Apr 26;13:396. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-396.

    PubMed 23622516
  • Amuha MG, Kutyabami P, Kitutu FE, Odoi-Adome R, Kalyango JN. Non-adherence to anti-TB drugs among TB/HIV co-infected patients in Mbarara Hospital Uganda: prevalence and associated factors. Afr Health Sci. 2009 Aug 1;9 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S8-15.

    PubMed 20589161
  • Van der Walt M, Lancaster J, Odendaal R, Davis JG, Shean K, Farley J. Serious treatment related adverse drug reactions amongst anti-retroviral naive MDR-TB patients. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e58817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058817. Epub 2013 Apr 3.

    PubMed 23573193
  • Farley JE, Ram M, Pan W, Waldman S, Cassell GH, Chaisson RE, Weyer K, Lancaster J, Van der Walt M. Outcomes of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) among a cohort of South African patients with high HIV prevalence. PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e20436. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020436. Epub 2011 Jul 22.

    PubMed 21799728
  • Lessells RJ, Swaminathan S, Godfrey-Faussett P. HIV treatment cascade in tuberculosis patients. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2015 Nov;10(6):439-46. doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000197.

    PubMed 26352390
  • Shapiro AE, van Heerden A, Schaafsma TT, Hughes JP, Baeten JM, van Rooyen H, Tumwesigye E, Celum CL, Barnabas RV. Completion of the tuberculosis care cascade in a community-based HIV linkage-to-care study in South Africa and Uganda. J Int AIDS Soc. 2018 Jan;21(1):e25065. doi: 10.1002/jia2.25065.

    PubMed 29381257
  • Hanrahan CF, Van Rie A. A proposed novel framework for monitoring and evaluation of the cascade of HIV-associated TB care at the health facility level. J Int AIDS Soc. 2017 Apr 20;20(1):21375. doi: 10.7448/IAS.20.01.21375.

    PubMed 28440604
  • Havlir DV, Kendall MA, Ive P, Kumwenda J, Swindells S, Qasba SS, Luetkemeyer AF, Hogg E, Rooney JF, Wu X, Hosseinipour MC, Lalloo U, Veloso VG, Some FF, Kumarasamy N, Padayatchi N, Santos BR, Reid S, Hakim J, Mohapi L, Mugyenyi P, Sanchez J, Lama JR, Pape JW, Sanchez A, Asmelash A, Moko E, Sawe F, Andersen J, Sanne I; AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study A5221. Timing of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection and tuberculosis. N Engl J Med. 2011 Oct 20;365(16):1482-91. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1013607.

    PubMed 22010914
  • Abdool Karim SS, Naidoo K, Grobler A, Padayatchi N, Baxter C, Gray AL, Gengiah T, Gengiah S, Naidoo A, Jithoo N, Nair G, El-Sadr WM, Friedland G, Abdool Karim Q. Integration of antiretroviral therapy with tuberculosis treatment. N Engl J Med. 2011 Oct 20;365(16):1492-501. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1014181.

    PubMed 22010915

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing CHW mHealth patient intervention for trigger escalation in people with Adherence, Patient and TB, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of participants with treatment success (time frame: Up to 12 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04298905, which also lists 35 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jan 2026.

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