A Study to Evaluate the Impact of M-teaching on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Digital Health Utilization in Tuberculosis Prevention and Control among Active Tuberculosis Cases and Their Close Contacts in Faridabad, Haryana.

BACKGROUND

The wise use and deployment of digital health (e/m-health) technologies with conventional approaches (in-person directly observed therapy) can play an essential role in improving access to information and providing people-centered tuberculosis (TB) care and support, preventing and controlling TB more effectively globally (by 2030) and in India (by 2025).

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) level and to evaluate the impact of "mobile-based teaching session" (time taken: 10-12 min) on that KAP level toward digital health technology utilization for TB prevention and control.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A preexperimental (single group) pre- and posttest design was employed with cluster simple random sampling among 51 active TB cases and their close contacts (age group: 12-78 years) in Faridabad, Haryana, from July to October 2022. Data were collected through telephonic interviews (total time taken: 5-6 min) using a structured questionnaire. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was computed to compare pre- and posttest rank scores using the SPSS (29.0.0.0) version at the P < 0.05 (two-tailed) significance level.

RESULTS

Despite having a positive attitude, the majority showed a lower knowledge and practice level preintervention, whereas after the intervention, their KAP level improved statistically significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results provide a significant preliminary base for decision-makers and health-care providers to plan and impart digital literacy for TB prevention and control more effectively.