Information technology-assisted treatment planning and performance assessment for severe thalassemia care in lowand middle-income countries: Observational study

Abstract

Background: Successful models of information and communication technology (ICT) applied to cost-effective delivery of quality care in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are an increasing necessity. Severe thalassemia is one of the most common life-threatening noncommunicable diseases of children globally. Objective: The aim was to study the impact of ICT on quality of care for severe thalassemia patients in LMIC. Methods: A total of 1110 patients with severe thalassemia from five centers in India were followed over a 1-year period. The impact of consistent use of a Web-based platform designed to assist comprehensive management of severe thalassemia (ThalCare) on key indicators of quality of care such as minimum (pretransfusion) hemoglobin, serum ferritin, liver size, and spleen size were assessed. Results: Overall improvements in initial hemoglobin, ferritin, and liver and spleen size were significant (P