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 meetingsA 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 informationUgandaDecompensationHospitalizationFailureSymptomsImpact 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 transportationCare
2024
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
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 Research
2022
Where Do Real-Time Prescription Benefit Tools Fit in the Landscape of High US Prescription Medication Costs? A Narrative Review
Wong R, Mehta T, Very B, Luo J, Feterik K, Crotty B, Epstein J, Fliotsos M, Kashyap N, Smith E, Woreta F, Schwartz J. Where Do Real-Time Prescription Benefit Tools Fit in the Landscape of High US Prescription Medication Costs? A Narrative Review. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2022, 38: 1038-1045. PMID: 36441366, PMCID: PMC10039141, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07945-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication costsElectronic clinical decision support toolPocket medication costsPrescription medication costsPoor patient adherenceWorse clinical outcomesClinical decision support toolUS healthcare costsPocket cost informationElectronic health recordsPharmacologic treatmentClinical outcomesPatient adherencePrescription medicationsHealthcare costsPatientsNarrative reviewHealth systemMedicaid ServicesLimited evidenceHealth recordsHealthcare systemFinancial burdenAdherenceMultiple factorsIntegrated multi-month dispensing of antihypertensive and antiretroviral therapy to sustain hypertension and HIV control
Kimera ID, Namugenyi C, Schwartz JI, Musimbaggo DJ, Ssenyonjo R, Atukunda P, Mutungi G, Mugabe F, Ambangira F, Mbuliro M, Katwesigye R, Neupane D, Ssinabulya I, Semitala FC, Delles C, Muddu M. Integrated multi-month dispensing of antihypertensive and antiretroviral therapy to sustain hypertension and HIV control. Journal Of Human Hypertension 2022, 37: 213-219. PMID: 35246602, PMCID: PMC8896410, DOI: 10.1038/s41371-022-00655-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV viral suppressionHypertension controlViral suppressionBlood pressureElevated systolic blood pressureHIV treatment outcomesMean blood pressureProportion of patientsSystolic blood pressureRetention of patientsPatient-centered approachAntiretroviral therapyHIV clinicStable patientsHIV controlHIV treatmentMean ageTreatment outcomesHypertensionPatientsHealthcare providersClinical encountersMonthsBaselineLongitudinal study
2021
Causes of medication non-adherence and the acceptability of support strategies for people with hypertension in Uganda: A qualitative study
Wilkinson R, Garden E, Nanyonga RC, Squires A, Nakaggwa F, Schwartz JI, Heller DJ. Causes of medication non-adherence and the acceptability of support strategies for people with hypertension in Uganda: A qualitative study. International Journal Of Nursing Studies 2021, 126: 104143. PMID: 34953374, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCauses of medicationPoor medication adherenceNon-communicable diseasesHypertension controlMedication adherenceCommon non-communicable diseasesMedication side effectsLack of symptomsUrban private hospitalsMonthly group meetingsHealth Belief ModelTraditional herbal medicineHypertensive medicationsUntreated hypertensionAdherence clubsAdherence interventionsConventional content analysis approachText remindersSide effectsHypertensionPatientsMedicationsPatient effortHealthcare providersContext-specific barriersSocial Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda
Tusubira AK, Nalwadda CK, Akiteng AR, Hsieh E, Ngaruiya C, Rabin TL, Katahoire A, Hawley NL, Kalyesubula R, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI, Armstrong-Hough M. Social Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda. Annals Of Global Health 2021, 87: 86. PMID: 34458110, PMCID: PMC8378074, DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3308.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesSelf-care practicesPrescribed medicinesConventional medicinePatient's social support networkRural UgandaSelf-care activitiesBlood sugar levelsCross-sectional qualitative studyResource-limited settingsSelf-care effortsSocial support networksSocial supportNCD clinicsNineteen patientsAdult patientsHealth facilitiesPatientsPatient strategiesManaging diabetesHypertensionSelf-CareDiabetesDiagnostic testsLow-income countries
2020
Development of a discrete choice experiment to understand patient preferences for diabetes and hypertension management in rural Uganda
Moor S, Tusubira A, Akiteng A, Hsieh E, Ngaruiya C, Rabin T, Hawley N, Lipska K, Armstrong-Hough M, Nalwadda C, Nugent R, Kalyesubula R, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz J. Development of a discrete choice experiment to understand patient preferences for diabetes and hypertension management in rural Uganda. The Lancet Global Health 2020, 8: s22. DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30163-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-communicable diseasesPatient preferencesHealth facilitiesCommon non-communicable diseasesRural UgandaCause of deathHealth care providersHealth service deliveryFormative qualitative researchAvailability of medicinesPeer support groupsHealth care systemPublic health officialsHypertension managementMiddle-income countriesRural patientsDiscrete choice experimentExpert consensusNakaseke districtPatientsCommunicable diseasesDiabetesLow-income countriesInternational content expertsHealth officials
2018
Prescribing and dispensing practices for medicines used to treat non-communicable diseases in Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Ngongoni R, Gan G, Deng Y, Agaba G, Akiteng A, Schwartz J. Prescribing and dispensing practices for medicines used to treat non-communicable diseases in Uganda: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Global Health 2018, 6: s23. DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30152-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-communicable diseasesHealth care facilitiesPublic health care facilitiesCross-sectional studyNCD medicinesBackground Non-communicable diseasesNational essential medicines listsPre-tested structured questionnaireEssential Medicines ListNCD clinicsCare cascadeMost patientsHeart failureMiddle-income countriesPrimary outcomeChronic conditionsPrescribed dosesCardiovascular diseaseWHO methodologyDiabetes medicinesMedicines ListPatientsAverage ageDispensing practicesTotal doses