Featured Publications
Bridging community and clinic through digital health: Community-based adaptation of a mobile phone-based heart failure program for remote communities in Uganda
Wali S, Ssinabulya I, Muhangi C, Kamarembo J, Atala J, Nabadda M, Odong F, Akiteng A, Ross H, Mashford-Pringle A, Cafazzo J, Schwartz J. Bridging community and clinic through digital health: Community-based adaptation of a mobile phone-based heart failure program for remote communities in Uganda. BMC Digital Health 2023, 1: 20. PMID: 38800672, PMCID: PMC11116269, DOI: 10.1186/s44247-023-00020-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVillage health teamsHeart failureMobile phone-based programHeart failure programCost of medicationsLimited healthcare accessQuality of lifeBurden of travelDigital health programsClinic visitsMost patientsCardiac clinicPatient surveyHealth teamsMedication deliverySemi-structured interviewsPatientsSignificant burdenCommunity careCare supportHealth programsHealthcare accessDigital health toolsInformed careCo-design meetingsCarpe DM: The First Global Diabetes Targets
Schwartz J, Ramaiya K, Warren M, Yadav P, Castillo G, George R, McGuire H. Carpe DM: The First Global Diabetes Targets. Global Health Science And Practice 2023, 11: e2200403. PMID: 37116924, PMCID: PMC10141427, DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00403.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPatient preferences for facility-based management of hypertension and diabetes in rural Uganda: a discrete choice experiment
Moor SE, Tusubira AK, Wood D, Akiteng AR, Galusha D, Tessier-Sherman B, Donroe EH, Ngaruiya C, Rabin TL, Hawley NL, Armstrong-Hough M, Nakirya BD, Nugent R, Kalyesubula R, Nalwadda C, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI. Patient preferences for facility-based management of hypertension and diabetes in rural Uganda: a discrete choice experiment. BMJ Open 2022, 12: e059949. PMID: 35863829, PMCID: PMC9310153, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059949.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeer support groupsAvailability of medicinesHealthcare providersPatient preferencesHealth facilitiesHealth educationRural UgandaFacility-based managementCost of treatmentLow-resource settingsDiabetes mellitusNakaseke districtDiscrete choice experimentHealthcare service deliveryAverage respondentIntervention designHTNMedicineUgandan shillingsDCE attributesProvidersGroupService deliveryImproved hypertension control at six months using an adapted WHO HEARTS-based implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda
Muddu M, Semitala FC, Kimera I, Mbuliro M, Ssennyonjo R, Kigozi SP, Katwesigye R, Ayebare F, Namugenyi C, Mugabe F, Mutungi G, Longenecker CT, Katahoire AR, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI. Improved hypertension control at six months using an adapted WHO HEARTS-based implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda. BMC Health Services Research 2022, 22: 699. PMID: 35610717, PMCID: PMC9131679, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08045-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLarge urban HIV clinicUrban HIV clinicHTN outcomesHIV clinicHypertension controlViral suppressionHIV outcomesHTN treatmentFurther implementation researchHIV viral suppressionProportion of patientsPre-post studyVaried clinical settingsAdult PLHIVBP controlHTN controlHTN screeningCare cascadeHIV careLifestyle counselingClinic visitsDiastolic BPHIV controlIndependent predictorsSystolic BPPATIENT-FACING MHEALTH APPLICATION IMPROVES SELF-CARE AND SYMPTOMS OF HEART FAILURE IN UGANDA
Schwartz J, Wali S, Nabadda M, Muhangi C, Akiteng A, Wang K, Gillman R, Davis J, Kibalizi E, Sewankambo N, Lwabi P, Nalwadda C, Ross H, Cafazzo J, Ssinabulya I. PATIENT-FACING MHEALTH APPLICATION IMPROVES SELF-CARE AND SYMPTOMS OF HEART FAILURE IN UGANDA. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2022, 79: 1820. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(22)02811-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA digital self-care intervention for Ugandan patients with heart failure and their clinicians: User-centred design and usability study
Hearn J, Wali S, Birungi P, Cafazzo JA, Ssinabulya I, Akiteng AR, Ross HJ, Seto E, Schwartz JI. A digital self-care intervention for Ugandan patients with heart failure and their clinicians: User-centred design and usability study. Digital Health 2022, 8: 20552076221129064. PMID: 36185389, PMCID: PMC9520172, DOI: 10.1177/20552076221129064.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDigital health interventionsSelf-care interventionsHeart failureHF patientsUgandan patientsHealth interventionsSigns of decompensationUnstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technologySelf-care behaviorsSelf-care efficacyResource-limited settingsHF symptomsPatients' qualityHigh-income countriesPatientsTreatment adviceCliniciansInterventionSuch interventionsLimited informationUgandaDecompensationHospitalizationFailureSymptomsA Broader View of Risk to Health Care Workers: Perspectives on Supporting Vulnerable Health Care Professional Households During COVID-19
Donroe JH, Rabin TL, Hsieh E, Schwartz JI. A Broader View of Risk to Health Care Workers: Perspectives on Supporting Vulnerable Health Care Professional Households During COVID-19. Academic Medicine 2021, 96: 1233-1235. PMID: 34039858, PMCID: PMC8378440, DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000004175.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConceptsVulnerable householdsHigh-risk family membersCOVID-19 pandemicState of emergencyFull-time workRange of concernsFamily responsibilitiesFamily safetyFrontline workersSupport networksChallenges of planningFamily membersHealth care workersHealth care providersHouseholdsHealth care professionalsCOVID-19Health care settingsUncertain timesBroad riskPersonal hazardWorkersCare settingsThreat of illnessCare providersImpact of a COVID-19 National Lockdown on Integrated Care for Hypertension and HIV
Schwartz JI, Muddu M, Kimera I, Mbuliro M, Ssennyonjo R, Ssinabulya I, Semitala FC. Impact of a COVID-19 National Lockdown on Integrated Care for Hypertension and HIV. Global Heart 2021, 16: 9. PMID: 33598389, PMCID: PMC7863843, DOI: 10.5334/gh.928.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth facilitiesPublic health facilitiesCOVID-19 national lockdownHTN controlHIV clinicUgandan patientsClinical outcomesChronic conditionsHypertensionIntegrated careHIVCOVID-19National lockdownMovement restrictionsMedicineNationwide lockdownOutcomesAntiretroviralsLockdownPatientsClinicCohortMotor vehicle transportationCareVariation in the availability and cost of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A descriptive time series analysis
Armstrong-Hough M, Sharma S, Kishore SP, Akiteng AR, Schwartz JI. Variation in the availability and cost of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A descriptive time series analysis. PLOS ONE 2020, 15: e0241555. PMID: 33362249, PMCID: PMC7757794, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241555.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntegrated Hypertension and HIV Care Cascades in an HIV Treatment Program in Eastern Uganda: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Muddu M, Tusubira AK, Sharma SK, Akiteng AR, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI. Integrated Hypertension and HIV Care Cascades in an HIV Treatment Program in Eastern Uganda: A Retrospective Cohort Study. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2019, 81: 552-561. PMID: 31045649, PMCID: PMC6625912, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002067.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetrospective cohort studyCare cascadeHIV careCohort studyHIV programsPrimary cardiovascular disease risk factorsCardiovascular disease risk factorsHIV care cascadeHIV care programsBlood pressure controlProportion of patientsDisease risk factorsHIV treatment programsViral load monitoringManagement of hypertensionHIV clinicEastern UgandaHIV treatmentRisk factorsCardiovascular diseaseHypertensionCare programPressure controlTreatment programHIVDisparities in availability of essential medicines to treat non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A Poisson analysis using the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment
Armstrong-Hough M, Kishore SP, Byakika S, Mutungi G, Nunez-Smith M, Schwartz JI. Disparities in availability of essential medicines to treat non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A Poisson analysis using the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment. PLOS ONE 2018, 13: e0192332. PMID: 29420640, PMCID: PMC5805288, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192332.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesHIV servicesHealth centersHealth facility preparednessHealth service readinessEssential medicinesPrimary health centersReferral health centersHealth facility typeUgandan health facilitiesFacility typePoisson regression modelsHIV careHIV counselingFacility preparednessReadiness assessment toolGeneral HospitalPredictors of readinessHealth facilitiesService readinessMultivariate analysisSignificant associationDiagnostic capacityHigher countsMultivariate modelNoncommunicable Diseases In East Africa: Assessing The Gaps In Care And Identifying Opportunities For Improvement
Siddharthan T, Ramaiya K, Yonga G, Mutungi GN, Rabin TL, List JM, Kishore SP, Schwartz JI. Noncommunicable Diseases In East Africa: Assessing The Gaps In Care And Identifying Opportunities For Improvement. Health Affairs 2015, 34: 1506-1513. PMID: 26355052, PMCID: PMC4568565, DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNoncommunicable diseasesCommunicable diseasesPrimary health care systemNoncommunicable disease managementDisease managementPublic health initiativesHealth service deliveryHealth care systemBasic science researchEssential medicationsCommunicable diseases managementHealth initiativesSocial determinantsHealth systemNutritional transitionDiseaseLow-income countriesCare systemMedical trainingService deliveryMedicationsPrevalenceCareTowards reframing health service delivery in Uganda: the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases
Schwartz JI, Dunkle A, Akiteng AR, Birabwa-Male D, Kagimu R, Mondo CK, Mutungi G, Rabin TL, Skonieczny M, Sykes J, Mayanja-Kizza H. Towards reframing health service delivery in Uganda: the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases. Global Health Action 2015, 8: 26537. PMID: 25563451, PMCID: PMC4292588, DOI: 10.3402/gha.v8.26537.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesHealth service deliveryIntegrated health services deliveryTraining of HCWsChronic disease preventionHealthcare worker trainingMiddle-income countriesService deliveryDisease preventionCommunicable diseasesHealth systemDouble burdenDiseaseWorker trainingMultidisciplinary research collaborationBurdenDeliveryMorbidityMajor roleManagementMortalityIntegrated ManagementCarePreventionLooking at non-communicable diseases in Uganda through a local lens: an analysis using locally derived data
Schwartz JI, Guwatudde D, Nugent R, Kiiza CM. Looking at non-communicable diseases in Uganda through a local lens: an analysis using locally derived data. Globalization And Health 2014, 10: 77. PMID: 25406738, PMCID: PMC4240853, DOI: 10.1186/s12992-014-0077-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesNCD epidemicHealth systemImportant chronic conditionsNCD risk factorsExcessive alcohol intakeChronic respiratory diseasesMental health disordersRoad traffic accidentsMiddle-income countriesAlcohol intakeChronic conditionsRisk factorsRespiratory diseaseHealth facilitiesHealth disordersNutritional transitionDiseaseNCD policiesSaharan AfricaEpidemicTraffic accidentsRepresentative dataMulti-sector partnershipsUgandaBeating the Odds in Uganda
Schwartz JI. Beating the Odds in Uganda. Annals Of Global Health 2014, 80: 493-494. PMID: 25960099, DOI: 10.1016/j.aogh.2015.02.003.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Current out of pocket care costs among HIV and hypertension co-morbid patients in urban and peri-urban Uganda
Cameron D, Morrell L, Kagoya F, Kiggundu J, Hutchinson B, Twine R, Schwartz J, Muddu M, Mutungi G, Kayima J, Katahoire A, Longenecker C, Nugent R, Loya D, Semitala F. Current out of pocket care costs among HIV and hypertension co-morbid patients in urban and peri-urban Uganda. PLOS Global Public Health 2024, 4: e0003423. PMID: 39321165, PMCID: PMC11423963, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003423.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCost of careHousehold incomeCo-morbid patientsCare costsMedian monthly household incomeHIV careCOVID-19 lockdownCascade of HIV careHIV care costsSocio-demographic characteristicsQuarter of patientsDistricts of UgandaIntegration of careMedian monthly costBorrow moneyOut-of-pocket costsDisease co-morbiditiesMonthly household incomePeri-urban UgandaService integrationUgandaHTN careCo-morbiditiesEast AfricaHypertension careTime to blood pressure control and predictors among patients receiving integrated treatment for hypertension and HIV based on an adapted WHO HEARTS implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda
Amutuhaire W, Semitala F, Kimera I, Namugenyi C, Mulindwa F, Ssenyonjo R, Katwesigye R, Mugabe F, Mutungi G, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz J, Katahoire A, Musoke L, Yendewa G, Longenecker C, Muddu M. Time to blood pressure control and predictors among patients receiving integrated treatment for hypertension and HIV based on an adapted WHO HEARTS implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda. Journal Of Human Hypertension 2024, 38: 452-459. PMID: 38302611, PMCID: PMC11076202, DOI: 10.1038/s41371-024-00897-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBP controlDuo-therapyAmlodipine 5Blood pressureWorld Health OrganizationMono-therapyCox proportional hazards analysisUrban HIV clinicCox proportional hazards modelsProportional hazards analysisBlood pressure controlAnti-hypertensive treatmentStage I hypertensionHIV care settingsProportional hazards modelHypertensive PLHIVMonotherapy groupPill burdenHIV clinicCohort studySystolic BPHazards modelPressure controlPatientsMmHg
2023
Bringing Generalists to Global Health: a Missed Opportunity and Call to Action
Heller D, Hudspeth J, Kishore S, Mercer T, Schwartz J, Rabin T. Bringing Generalists to Global Health: a Missed Opportunity and Call to Action. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2023, 39: 1901-1904. PMID: 38135777, PMCID: PMC11282038, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08573-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSelf-care and healthcare seeking practices among patients with hypertension and diabetes in rural Uganda
Tusubira A, Ssinabulya I, Kalyesubula R, Nalwadda C, Akiteng A, Ngaruiya C, Rabin T, Katahoire A, Armstrong-Hough M, Hsieh E, Hawley N, Schwartz J. Self-care and healthcare seeking practices among patients with hypertension and diabetes in rural Uganda. PLOS Global Public Health 2023, 3: e0001777. PMID: 38079386, PMCID: PMC10712841, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPlanning for Hospital Discharge for Older Adults in Uganda: A Qualitative Study Among Healthcare Providers Using the COM-B Framework
Owokuhaisa J, Schwartz J, Wiens M, Musinguzi P, Rukundo G. Planning for Hospital Discharge for Older Adults in Uganda: A Qualitative Study Among Healthcare Providers Using the COM-B Framework. Journal Of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2023, 16: 3235-3248. PMID: 37936911, PMCID: PMC10627173, DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s430489.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDischarge planningHealthcare providersOlder adultsHealth facilitiesPatient careHealthcare service deliveryRoutine clinical care settingsProper discharge planningHealthcare provider perspectiveClinical care settingsNon-communicable diseasesHome-based careCOM-B frameworkUgandan health systemQuality patient careHospital dischargeContinuous medical educationInpatient wardsCare settingsAudio-recorded interviewsHealth systemProvider perspectivesInfluence behaviour changeQualitative exploratory studyService delivery