Abstract
Over a period of 6 months the effect of home visits on compliance with directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS), was studied on 480 new smear-positive tuberculosis patients who had delayed collecting their drugs on one occasion. Patients registered at 15 tuberculosis treatment centres in Baghdad, Iraq, were randomized to an intervention group (receiving home visits from trained personnel) or a control group. Home visits were highly effective in improving the return to treatment of patients who were late for treatment (231/240, 96.3%). The intervention group showed a higher treatment success rate (94.2% versus 76.7%), lower default rate (0.8% versus 10.0%) and higher smear conversion rate after the end of treatment (92.9% versus 75.0%) than controls. Home visiting by trained personnel significantly improves patient compliance with DOTS.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Randomized Controlled Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
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Chi-Square Distribution
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Directly Observed Therapy* / methods
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Directly Observed Therapy* / psychology
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Directly Observed Therapy* / standards
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Disease Notification
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Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
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Home Care Services / organization & administration*
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House Calls
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Humans
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Iraq / epidemiology
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Logistic Models
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Motivation
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Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / psychology
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Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / statistics & numerical data
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Patient Dropouts / psychology
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Patient Dropouts / statistics & numerical data
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Program Evaluation
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Public Health Practice
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Sputum / drug effects
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Sputum / microbiology
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Treatment Outcome
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / psychology
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Urban Health Services / organization & administration
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Volunteers / education
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Volunteers / organization & administration