mAnaging siCkle CELl disEase Through incReased AdopTion of hydroxyurEa in Nigeria

mAnaging siCkle CELl disEase Through incReased AdopTion of hydroxyurEa in Nigeria

Large knowledge gaps remain regarding strategies to promote the adoption of hydroxyurea (HU), particularly in sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria, where more than 75% of annual sickle cell anemia births occur. The vast majority of people with SCD in Africa do not receive evidenced-based health care (e.g., newborn screening, health education, prophylaxis for infection, optimal nutrition and hydration, blood transfusion, transcranial Doppler screening, and HU therapy), despite its effectiveness in reducing SCD-related adverse outcomes and mortality. The use of HU in SSA is <1% among SCD patients. The investigators' preliminary findings indicate that provider-level barriers are significant and must be addressed to improve HU adoption. To address HU adoption, the investigators will use the NIH-funded study (e.g., Realizing Effectiveness Across Continents with Hydroxyurea (REACH) Clinical Trial (NCT01966731)) that developed an evidence-informed, clinical, practical, and easy-to-follow algorithm to 1) Screen patients for sickle cell disease (SCD), 2) Initiate HU treatment, and 3) Maintain HU dosage over time (SIM) for the improved management of SCD as our intervention. The Nigerian government released guidelines supporting the SIM intervention for HU adoption for improved SCD management, and HU is on the list of essential medicines for Nigeria. The investigators' implementation strategy for improving SCD management in Nigeria uses a practical and replicable evidence-based task-sharing strategy, TAsk-Strengthening Strategy for Hemoglobinopathies (TASSH), adopted from the TAsk-Strengthening Strategy for Hypertension control (TASSH) trials in Ghana and Nigeria containing the essential components of i) Training healthcare workers/providers to be more patient-centered in clinical consultations, ii) Clinical reminders, and iii) Practice facilitation (TCP) known as (TASSH TCP) for SCD management. Using a sequential exploratory mixed-methods study design, the investigators will conduct this study using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) framework in four sequential phases to assess the effectiveness of SIM adoption by providers in the context of the TASSH TCP implementation strategy in Nigeria.

Aim 1: Using the EPIS framework as a guide, identify and characterize the capacity of 20 SPARC-NEt clinical sites to adopt SIM and adapt a tailored healthcare worker TASSH Training + Clinical reminders + Practice facilitation (TASSH TCP) for SCD management.

Aim 2: Evaluate in a cluster RCT, the effect of the TASSH TCP (experimental condition) vs. receipt of educational information only on TASSH TCP (control) on the adoption of SIM (primary outcome) across 20 SPARC-NEt clinical sites at 12 months. Hypothesis 1: The level of SIM adoption will be higher in the SPARC- NEt clinical sites randomized to the experimental condition than those in control.

Aim 3: Evaluate the mediators of SIM+TASSH TCP adoption, implementation fidelity, and sustainability across SPARC-NEt clinical sites at 12 and 24 months. Hypothesis 2: Inner organizational context, outer context, and implementation process will influence adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of SIM+TASSH TCP at clinical sites.

Impact: The study leverages the infrastructure of the SPARC-NEt (U01HL156942) of Nigeria to assess the adoption of HU among providers to improve SCD management in a manner that is scalable and sustainable across Nigeria and identify best practices for implementing HU therapy in resource constrained settings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• SCD patients18 years older that have provided consent;
• Pediatric SCD patients aged 12 months to 17 years with an accompanying guardian and have provided informed consent or assent;
• Registration in the electronic medical records (EMR) database with clinical charts and received care at the local clinical sites or health facilities and not on HU therapy;
• Hb Genotype: SCD-SS, SCD-Sβo thal, SCD-SOArab (On a case by case basis, a severely affected person with SCD-SC may be offered HU therapy under a modified treatment protocol)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any SCD patient not registered in the EMR database without informed consent or assent;
• Physically unable to participate in study activities;
• An SCD patient on HU