Abstract:
Background: Treatment nonadherence is major challenge before tuberculosis (TB) control activities.
Treatment adherence is the result of interactions of various factors related to the patient, provider,
health setup, type of illness, and sociocultural factors. Aim: The aim was to assess baseline knowledge
of new smear‑positive TB patients about their disease and treatment and to find its impact on
treatment adherence. Methods: New sputum‑positive TB patients initiated directly observed treatment
short‑course in ward E of Mumbai district in first two‑quarters of the calendar year were enrolled in
the study. They were interviewed by trained interviewer as per pretested semi‑structured interview
schedules to collect sociodemographic information and to assess their knowledge after verbal consent.
Treatment adherence was noted by screening treatment cards after any final outcome of the treatment as
per Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program. Data were entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed
using SPSS 15.0 software (developed by IBM, Chicago, USA in 2007). Results: Out of 157 patients
enrolled, 150 could be interviewed. The majority were in reproductive age group and from class IV and V
socioeconomic class. Good knowledge about infectiousness, reasons behind TB, its spread, curability, and
treatment duration was found in 29.5%, 28.8%, 16%, 59%, and 22.3%, respectively. 72/150 were treatment
adherent and good knowledge about all these aspects was significantly associated with treatment
adherence. Most significant association was found with good knowledge about infectiousness of TB (odds
ratio: 1.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Thorough knowledge regarding TB and its treatment should be
given to the TB patients at the initiation of the treatment may help to improve treatment adherence.
Machine summary:
Positive impact of knowledge about tuberculosis and its treatment on treatment adherence among new smear‑positive tuberculosis patients in ward E of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Address for Correspondence: Dr. Priya Y.
Aim: The aim was to assess baseline knowledge of new smear‑positive TB patients about their disease and treatment and to find its impact on treatment adherence.
Good knowledge about infectiousness, reasons behindTB, its spread, curability, and treatment duration was found in 29.
Positive impact of knowledge about tuberculosis and its treatment on treatment adherence among new smear-positive tuberculosis patients in ward E of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
[5] Assessment of knowledge of NSP TB patients about their disease and treatment is needed to assess impact of ongoing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities and TB control activities regarding patients’ education under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
[6] In the present study, our aim was to assess baseline knowledge of NSP TB patients about their disease and treatment and to find its impact on treatment adherence.
[10] Our study shows that if NSP TB patients have good knowledge about their disease parameters observed as per Table 3, contribute significantly to their treatment adherence.
Though, results of the study cannot be generalized, the study emphasizes the positive role of knowledge regarding TB and its treatment in ATT adherence, importance of education, and adverse impact of socioeconomic condition of TB patients.
An assessment of factors contributing to treatment adherence and knowledge of TB transmission among patients on TB treatment.