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A Study of Non Compliance By Patients of Tuberculosis To DOTS Therapy: How It Can Be Decreased?
Abstract
Background:
Tuberculosis is a chronic communicable disease requiring prolonged treatment. The therapeutic regimens as recommended under Revised National Tuberculosis Programme (RNTCP) have been shown to be highly effective but poor adherence to medication is a major barrier to its global control.
Objectives:
To study the profile of TB patients. To study the reasons of non compliance to DOTS therapy among the Tuberculosis patients and to find a solution to it.
Materials and methods:
This cross sectional study was carried out at Navsari city of Gujarat. A total of 156 patients were included in this study, registered during the period from January — 2010 to December - 2010. A predesigned Performa was used to collect details of each patient. Patients who defaulted on treatment were further traced, telephonically and personally.
Results:
28 (17.9%) patients out of the total of 156 patients did not adhere to treatment. Non compliance to treatment was more among elderly patients (34.3%).Side effects following medication and lack of awareness were found to be the most common reasons (32.1%).
Conclusions:
Non compliance was found to be mainly due to side effects of medicine and lack of awareness. So educating the patient about various aspects of Tuberculosis and some measures to decrease side effects is ofutmost importance
