Strengthening evidence for text-based telehealth in post-operative care: A pragmatic study of the reach and effectiveness of two-way, text-based follow-up after voluntary medical male circumcision in South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Building upon evidence of safety and efficiency gains from a randomized control trial (RCT) in South Africa, we further scaled implementation of two-way, short message service (SMS), text-based (2wT) follow-up after voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). We aimed to determine if gains in adverse event (AE) identification and reduced follow-up visits could be maintained when 2wT was implemented in routine VMMC settings. A pragmatic, stepped wedge design (SWD) study was implemented across three districts in South Africa. Men ages 15 and older could opt into the 2wT telehealth follow-up approach when their facility was in the intervention period. Men in routine periods were offered the standard of care (SoC): in-person post-operative visits on days 2 and 7 as per national VMMC guidelines

SUBMITTER: Feldacker C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12494287 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature