Tracking of Non-compliant TB Patients

The purpose of this research was to develop a method for the tracking of treatment non-compliant tuberculosis patients. The literature revealed that a number of factors are associated with a susceptibility to treatment non-compliance, and that only directly observable therapy and community involvement lead to improved treatment compliance among susceptible individuals. A procedure to track tuberculosis patients characterized any one of four specific factors for the provision of directly observable therapy was developed and is recommended for implementation. Individuals who will be tracked are those who are characterized by one or more of the following factors: homelessness, substance abuse, low-income, or intolerance of treatment-drugs. These individuals will be tracked to assure compliance with directly observable scheduled treatments for tuberculosis.

The purpose of this research is to develop a method for the tracking of treatment non-compliant tuberculosis patients. A number of factors cause the development of an effective tracking method to be important. Following a steady and relatively rapid decline in the number of new cases of tuberculosis reported each year in the United States, the number of new cases reported began a slower but steady increase in 1985 (Conspicuous consumption, 1993, p. 6). Growth in new cases of tuberculosis is particularly strong in the poo

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he use of voluntary health care workers. This approach is community-based, and treatment-compliance is accomplished through the social integration of tuberculosis- infected individuals into the communities in which they reside. Ferrer, Kirschbaum, Toro, Jadue, Munoz, and Espinoza (1991, pp. 423-431) sought to identify factors that indicate a high probability of treatment non-compliance by tuberculosis-infected individuals. The following factors and characteristics were found to be associated with treatment non-compliance: 1. Male gender. 2. Under 45 years old. 3. Not a member of nuclear family. 4. Low-level of formal educational attainment. 5. Unemployed. 6. Homeless. 7. Substance abuser. 8. Treatment drug intolerance. An investigation conducted by Barnhoorn and Adriaanse, 1992, pp. 291-306) confirmed the importance of community involvement in tuberculosis treatment-compliance reported by Westaway, Conradie, and Remmers (1991, pp. 140-144). With respect to socioeconomic factors, however, Barnhoorn and Adriaanse, 1992, pp. 291-306) found only low-income to be associated with tuberculosis- treatment non-compliance. Goldsmith (1993, pp. 187-189) found that both homelessness and low-in
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Approximate Word count = 1582
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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