Providers' Compliance to Malaria Treatment ((PCMT))
Malaria
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Malaria focused on measuring SMS reminders, Provider's compliance, malaria
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Dispensaries and health centers; public and private; operating in Rufiji district that provided outpatient services will be eligible for the study. In the intervention arm facility, all health workers who see and take care of patients at the outpatient department (OPD) will be registered to receive automated SMS as the intervention in this study.
During the evaluation phase, all patients attending the surveyed facilities for initial illness consultation will be eligible for inclusion in the study. Assessment of adherence will be performed to malaria patients (who tested positive) and received ACT for treatment.
Exclusion Criteria:
Due to logistical difficulties, health facilities within the Delta region will be excluded in this study. As well, two hospitals in the district will be excluded in the study since they mostly receive referral patients. Also, hospitals have specialized clinic sections with highly trained staff and their nurses or clinicians may be rotating in different departments, hence there may not be health provider's whose primary duties are on OPD patients alone. In addition, health workers in eligible facilities who do not own a mobile phone will be excluded to receive "SMS" reminders.
During evaluation, all severe cases and hospitalized patients will not be included in the surveys. Assessment of adherence study will exclude non residents of the study area.
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Sites / Locations
- Ifakara Health InstituteRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
SMS reminders
This arm will receive automated mobile phone text message reminders for health workers in outpatient departments of public and private health facilities on issues related to care of malaria patients and suspected patients.