Direct observation (DO) for drug-resistant tuberculosis: do we really DO?

Directly-observed therapy (DOT) is recommended for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients during entire treatment period

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 May 2015

Country:: India
Document Type:: Research Paper
Theme:: Health
Authors:: Benbaba, S, Isaakidis, P, Das, M, Jadhav, S, Reid, T, Furin, J

Abstract

This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study used existing qualitative data from a purposively-selected subset of 12 patients, 5 DOT-providers and 5 family members, were assessed in order to determine how DO was implemented. A questionnaire-based survey of DR-TB patients, their DOT-providers and MSF staff was completed between June and August 2014. Patients were defined as”following Strict DO” and “following DO” if a DOT-provider had seen the patient swallow his/her medications “every day” or “most of the days” respectively. If DO was not followed, reasons were also recorded.

This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)

Citation

Benbaba S, Isaakidis P, Das M, Jadhav S, Reid T, Furin J (2015) Direct Observation (DO) for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Do We Really DO? PLoS ONE 10(12): e0144936.