Abstract | SETTING: Directly observed therapy (DOT) is a core element of tuberculosis (TB) care and control efforts. In Taiwan, DOT was implemented in 2006, when the Stop TB Strategy was adopted as a national policy. OBJECTIVE: To quantify DOT among patients on anti- tuberculosis treatment and measure the association between proportion of DOT and TB treatment outcomes at a national level in Taiwan. DESIGN: We analyzed data prospectively collected on all new pulmonary TB cases reported to the national web-based registry between 1 January 2007 and 30 June 2008. We compared treatment outcomes and proportion of DOT in multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Among 11,528 patients initiating anti- tuberculosis treatment, the proportion of days during which an official DOT observer witnessed treatment was >60% for 5150 (45%) patients and ≤60% for 4601 (40%) patients, whereas for 1777 (15%) patients no days of DOT were recorded. Being older, male, having positive bacteriology results and a non-World Health Organization recommended treatment regimen at baseline were independently related to unsuccessful treatment outcomes and mortality. A dose-response effect was found between proportion of DOT and these outcomes. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the importance of ensuring universal DOT in improving treatment outcomes among new pulmonary TB patients.
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Authors | E Bloss, P-C Chan, N-W Cheng, K-F Wang, S-L Yang, P Cegielski |
Journal | The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
(Int J Tuberc Lung Dis)
Vol. 16
Issue 4
Pg. 462-7
(Apr 2012)
ISSN: 1815-7920 [Electronic] France |
PMID | 22640512
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antitubercular Agents
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Directly Observed Therapy
(methods)
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Health Policy
- Humans
- Infant
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multivariate Analysis
- Prospective Studies
- Registries
- Risk Factors
- Sex Factors
- Taiwan
- Treatment Outcome
- Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
(drug therapy)
- Young Adult
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