Feasibility of an Asynchronous Video Directly Observed Therapy Review Service

A poster presented at the 2024 National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) conference demonstrates that delegating the review of video Directly Observed Therapy (video DOT) to a centralized source is a promising service model for supplementing Local Health Department (LHD) resources. 

Recognized as equivalent to in-person Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) by the CDC, video DOT is a convenient, patient-centric, and cost-effective way for TB Programs to streamline services and expand workforce efficiency. Video review as a service expands the impact of video DOT by further extending TB DOT staff capacity.

To understand the feasibility of Scene’s video DOT review as a service for TB patients being treated in a high-burden, urban LHD in Southern California, seven patients with active TB participated in a pilot study over three weeks between July and August of 2023.

For the study, 116 asynchronous video DOT submissions via Scene's video DOT app were first reviewed by Scene’s trained TB Nurse Case Manager following the LHD protocol and then submitted to the LHD for an internal review.

The process was streamlined and synchronized while the Scene Nurse was timely, responsive, and thorough, proving that DOT review as a service is a feasible supplement to LHD DOT programs. 

Additional research is recommended to examine best practices and explore increased opportunities for patient engagement by Scene’s centralized review service.

View the poster.