Mobile Health Applications to Support Tuberculosis Prevention and Care in Indonesia: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v11.659Keywords:
DAT, digital adherence technology, Indonesia, mHealth, mobile apps, tuberculosisAbstract
Background: This scoping review assessed the landscape of mHealth apps in support of tuberculosis (TB) care in Indonesia, which has the second-highest TB burden worldwide.
Methods: The authors identify existing apps, evaluate their features, understand their role in supporting treatment adherence, and determine areas of unmet needs, especially for the eastern part of Indonesia. In October 2021, a comprehensive search on Google Play and the Apple Store was conducted and updated in April 2023 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review guidelines. Thematic analysis was used to categorize and evaluate app features. For apps offering treatment adherence features, relevant publications were reviewed to describe their development process and evaluate effectiveness.
Results: Twenty-two apps met the inclusion criteria. Eight had features to support treatment adherence; 16 on TB education and awareness; 10 on care navigation; five on a communication and community forum; seven for e-consult/telehealth; four
for self-screening tools; four for data reporting, monitoring, and evaluation; and five included other features. Apps primarily developed and targeted users from the western part of Indonesia. Significant gaps were identified, particularly a lack of patient centered app that facilitate patient-provider communication, collaborative care, or a strategy to verify treatment adherence.
Conclusions: No app was tailored for Papua, a culturally unique province with low treatment success rates. Given Indonesia’s diverse culture, varied geography, and unique societal nuances, integrating minimum essential features and adopting a user-input-driven developing approach are crucial to ensuring that the future digital tools effectively address the specific needs and preferences of Indonesian users.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Agnes Angelita Suyanto, PhD, MPH, RN, Sarah Iribarren, PhD, RN
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