Direct observation of treatment provided by a family member as compared to non-family member among children with new tuberculosis: a pragmatic, non-inferiority, cluster-randomized trial in Gujarat, India
WHO recommends direct observation of treatment (DOT) to support patients with tuberculosis (TB)
Abstract
The World Health Organization recommends direct observation of treatment (DOT) to support patients with tuberculosis (TB) and to ensure treatment completion. As per national programme guidelines in India, a DOT provider can be anyone who is acceptable and accessible to the patient and accountable to the health system, except a family member. This poses challenges among children with TB who may be more comfortable receiving medicines from their parents or family members than from unfamiliar DOT providers.
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
Dave PV, Shah AN, Nimavat PB, Modi BB, Pujara KR, Patel P, et al. (2016) Direct Observation of Treatment Provided by a Family Member as Compared to Non-Family Member among Children with New Tuberculosis: A Pragmatic, Non-Inferiority, Cluster-Randomized Trial in Gujarat, India. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0148488. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148488