Choun K, et al. – This investigation was planned to evaluate if tracking of tuberculosis (TB) patients referred to peripheral health facilities using mobile phone technology can reduce lost to contact after referral (LTCR). This research provided preliminary evidence that using mobile phones was accompanied with a high retention among TB patients referred from a tertiary hospital setting in Cambodia.

Methods

• During May–October 2014, a descriptive study including follow-up of TB patients referred out from the Sihanouk Hospital Centre of Hope (SHCH) to peripheral health facilities.
• Standard operating procedures were utilized to contact individual patients and/or health facilities utilizing a mobile phone.

Results

• Results of this study suggested that among one hundred nine TB patients referred to peripheral health facilities, 107(98%) had access to a mobile phone of whom, 103(97%) could be contacted directly, on the other hand, 5(2%) were contacted through their health care providers.
• An aggregate of of 108(99%) of one hundred nine referred TB patients in intervention period were thus placed on TB treatment.