Browsing by Author "Tran, Dan N."

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    Community-based medication delivery program for antihypertensive medications improves adherence and reduces blood pressure
    (PLOS, 2022-09) Tran, Dan N.; Kangogo, Kibet; Amisi, James A.; Kamadi, James; Karwa, Rakhi; Kiragu, Benson; Laktabai, Jeremiah; Manji, Imran N.; Njuguna, Benson; Szkwarko, Daria; Qian, Kun; Vedanthan, Rajesh; Pastakia, Sonak D.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Non-adherence to antihypertensive medications is a major cause of uncontrolled hypertension, leading to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Ensuring consistent medication possession is crucial in addressing non-adherence. Community-based medication delivery is a strategy that may improve medication possession, adherence, and blood pressure (BP) reduction. Our program in Kenya piloted a community medication delivery program, coupled with blood pressure monitoring and adherence evaluation. Between September 2019 and March 2020, patients who received hypertension care from our chronic disease management program also received community-based delivery of antihypertensive medications. We calculated number of days during which each patient had possession of medications and analyzed the relationship between successful medication delivery and self-reported medication adherence and BP. A total of 128 patient records (80.5% female) were reviewed. At baseline, mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 155.7 mmHg and mean self-reported adherence score was 2.7. Sixty-eight (53.1%) patients received at least 1 successful medication delivery. Our pharmacy dispensing records demonstrated that medication possession was greater among patients receiving medication deliveries. Change in self-reported medication adherence from baseline worsened in patients who did not receive any medication delivery (+0.5), but improved in patients receiving 1 delivery (-0.3) and 2 or more deliveries (-0.8). There was an SBP reduction of 1.9, 6.1, and 15.5 mmHg among patients who did not receive any deliveries, those who received 1 delivery, and those who received 2 or more medication deliveries, respectively. Adjusted mixed-effect model estimates revealed that mean SBP reduction and self-reported medication adherence were improved among individuals who successfully received medication deliveries, compared to those who did not. A community medication delivery program in western Kenya was shown to be implementable and enhanced medication possession, reduced SBP, and significantly improved self-reported adherence. This is a promising strategy to improve health outcomes for patients with uncontrolled hypertension that warrants further investigation.
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    Ensuring Patient-Centered Access to Cardiovascular Disease Medicines in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries Through Health-System Strengthening
    (Elsevier, 2017) Tran, Dan N.; Njuguna, Benson; Mercer, Timothy; Manji, Imran; Fischer, Lydia; Lieberman, Marya; Pastakia, Sonak; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global mortality and is expected to reach 23 million deaths by 2030. 80% of CVD deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Although CVD prevention and treatment guidelines are available, translating these into practice is hampered in LMICs by inadequate healthcare systems which limit access to lifesaving medications. In this review article, we describe the deficiencies in the current LMIC supply chains that limit access to effective CVD medicines, and discuss existing solutions that are translatable to similar settings in order to address these deficiencies.
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    Integrating community-based HIV and non-communicable disease care with microfinance groups: a feasibility study in Western Kenya
    (BMC, 2022-12-28) Kafu, Catherine; Wachira, Juddy; Omodi, Victor; Said, Jamil; Pastakia, Sonak D.; Tran, Dan N.; Adongo Onyango, Jael; Aburi, Dan; Wilson‑Barthes, Marta; Galárraga, Omar; Genberg, Becky Lynn; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: The Harambee study is a cluster randomized trial in Western Kenya that tests the effect, mechanisms, and cost-effectiveness of integrating community-based HIV and non-communicable disease care within microfinance groups on chronic disease treatment outcomes. This paper documents the stages of our feasibility study conducted in preparation for the Harambee trial, which include (1) characterizing the target population and gauging recruitment capacity, (2) determining community acceptability of the integrated intervention and study procedures, and (3) identifying key implementation considerations prior to study start. Methods: Feasibility research took place between November 2019 and February 2020 in Western Kenya. Mixed methods data collection included surveys administered to 115 leaders of 105 community-based microfinance groups, 7 in-person meetings and two workshops with stakeholders from multiple sectors of the health system, and ascertainment of field notes and geographic coordinates for group meeting locations and HIV healthcare facilities. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using STATA IC/13. Longitude and latitude coordinates were mapped to county boundaries using Esri ArcMap. Qualitative data obtained from stakeholder meetings and field notes were analyzed thematically. Results: Of the 105 surveyed microfinance groups, 77 met eligibility criteria. Eligible groups had been in existence from 6 months to 18 years and had an average of 22 members. The majority (64%) of groups had at least one member who owned a smartphone. The definition of "active" membership and model of saving and lending differed across groups. Stakeholders perceived the community-based intervention and trial procedures to be acceptable given the minimal risks to participants and the potential to improve HIV treatment outcomes while facilitating care integration. Potential challenges identified by stakeholders included possible conflicts between the trial and existing community-based interventions, fear of group disintegration prior to trial end, clinicians' inability to draw blood for viral load testing in the community, and deviations from standard care protocols. Conclusions: This study revealed that it was feasible to recruit the number of microfinance groups necessary to ensure that our clinical trial was sufficient powered. Elicitation of stakeholder feedback confirmed that the planned intervention was largely acceptable and was critical to identifying challenges prior to implementation.
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    Microfinance, retention in care, and mortality among patients enrolled in HIV 2 Care in East Africa
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2021-10) Genberg, Becky L.; Wilson-Barthes, Marta G.; Omodi, Victor; Hogan, Joseph W.; Steingrimsson, Jon; Wachira, Juddy; Pastakia, Sonak; Tran, Dan N.; Kiragu, Zana W.; Ruhl, Laura J.; Rosenberg, Molly; Kimaiyo, Sylvester; Galárraga, Omar; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Objective: To measure associations between participation in community-based microfinance groups, retention in HIV care, and death among people with HIV (PWH) in low-resource settings. Design and methods: We prospectively analyzed data from 3609 patients enrolled in an HIV care program in western Kenya. HIV patients who were eligible and chose to participate in a Group Integrated Savings for Health Empowerment (GISHE) microfinance group were matched 1 : 2 on age, sex, year of enrollment in HIV care, and location of initial HIV clinic visit to patients not participating in GISHE. Follow-up data were abstracted from medical records from January 2018 through February 2020. Logistic regression analysis examined associations between GISHE participation and two outcomes: retention in HIV care (i.e. >1 HIV care visit attended within 6 months prior to the end of follow-up) and death. Socioeconomic factors associated with HIV outcomes were included in adjusted models. Results: The study population was majority women (78.3%) with a median age of 37.4 years. Microfinance group participants were more likely to be retained in care relative to HIV patients not participating in a microfinance group [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.71; P = 0.046]. Participation in group microfinance was associated with a reduced odds of death during the follow-up period (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.28–1.09; P = 0.105). Conclusion: Participation in group-based microfinance appears to be associated with better HIV treatment outcomes. A randomized trial is needed to assess whether microfinance groups can improve clinical and socioeconomic outcomes among PWH in similar settings.
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    Mitigating The Burden Of Diabetes In Sub-Saharan Africa Through An Integrated Diagonal Health Systems Approach
    (Dove Press, 2019-10-31) Mercer, Tim; Chang, Alice C.; Fischer, Lydia; Gardner, Adrian; Kerubo, Immaculate; Tran, Dan N.; Laktabai, Jeremiah; Pastakia, Sonak; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Diabetes is a chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) presenting growing health and economic burdens in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Diabetes is unique due to its cross-cutting nature, impacting multiple organ systems and increasing the risk for other communicable and non-communicable diseases. Unfortunately, the quality of care for diabetes in SSA is poor, largely due to a weak disease management framework and fragmented health systems in most sub-Saharan African countries. We argue that by synergizing disease-specific vertical programs with system-specific horizontal programs through an integrated disease-system diagonal approach, we can improve access, quality, and safety of diabetes care programs while also supporting other chronic diseases. We recommend utilizing the six World Health Organization (WHO) health system building blocks – 1) leadership and governance, 2) financing, 3) health workforce, 4) health information systems, 5) supply chains, and 6) service delivery – as a framework to design a diagonal approach with a focus on health system strengthening and integration to implement and scale quality diabetes care. We discuss the successes and challenges of this approach, outline opportunities for future care programming and research, and highlight how this approach can lead to the improvement in the quality of care for diabetes and other chronic diseases across SSA.
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    Supply-chain strategies for essential medicines in rural western Kenya during COVID-19
    (WHO, 2021-05-01) Tran, Dan N.; Were, Phelix M.; Kangogo, Kibet; Amisi, James A.; Manji, Imran; Pastakia, Sonak D.; Vedanthan, Rajesh; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Problem: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted health systems worldwide and threatened the supply of essential medicines. Especially affected are vulnerable patients in low- and middle-income countries who can only afford access to public health systems. Approach: Soon after physical distancing and curfew orders began on 15 March 2020 in Kenya, we rapidly implemented three supply-chain strategies to ensure a continuous supply of essential medicines while minimizing patients' COVID-19 exposure risks. We redistributed central stocks of medicines to peripheral health facilities to ensure local availability for several months. We equipped smaller, remote health facilities with medicine tackle boxes. We also made deliveries of medicines to patients with difficulty reaching facilities. Local setting: Τo implement these strategies we leveraged our 30-year partnership with local health authorities in rural western Kenya and the existing revolving fund pharmacy scheme serving 85 peripheral health centres. Relevant changes: In April 2020, stocks of essential chronic and non-chronic disease medicines redistributed to peripheral health facilities increased to 835 140 units, as compared with 316 330 units in April 2019. We provided medicine tackle boxes to an additional 46 health facilities. Our team successfully delivered medications to 264 out of 311 patients (84.9%) with noncommunicable diseases whom we were able to reach. Lessons learnt: Our revolving fund pharmacy model has ensured that patients' access to essential medicines has not been interrupted during the pandemic. Success was built on a community approach to extend pharmaceutical services, adapting our current supply-chain infrastructure and working quickly in partnership with local health authorities.