Impact of online community learning programs on TB prevention behaviors

This study compares an online community learning program with standard community tuberculosis (TB) education to improve TB prevention behaviors. Evidence that digital TB education with peer discussion changes behavior remains limited. A prospective cluster-randomized trial assigned community clusters to the online program or to usual education and referral pathways, with surveys at enrollment and at 3 months. The primary measure was change in a TB prevention behavior index, with an intervention minus control contrast of 0.51 [0.12, 0.9] (p = 0.014). Screening or referral completion was higher in the intervention arm, while change in TB knowledge score did not show a clear between-arm difference. Because outcomes were near term and based on surveys, the findings add evidence to support TB program implementers and digital health teams planning community TB prevention education.