Protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of digital health interventions in improving non-communicable disease management during the pandemic in rural Pakistan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed gaps in global health systems, especially in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Evidence shows that patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and suffering direct and indirect health consequences. Considering the future challenges such as environmental disasters and pandemics to the LMICs health systems, digital health interventions (DHI) are well poised to strengthen health care resilience. This study aims to implement and evaluate a comprehensive package of DHIs of integrated COVID-NCD care to manage NCDs in primary care facilities in rural Pakistan.

Methods

The study is designed as a pragmatic, parallel two-arm, multi-centre, mix-methods cluster randomised controlled t

SUBMITTER: Wei X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10564142 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature