Factors related to treatment adherence in patients with tuberculosis in Pereira, Colombia, 2012-2013

Abstract

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, the adherence to the tuberculosis treatment is the extent to which a patient’s medication taking coincides with the prescribed treatment. The sum of cured patients and those who have completed treatment (directly observed therapy strategy, DOTS) are pragmatic indicators of the adherence. The patients who do not complete treatment correspond to non-adherents. Objective: To determine the relationship between anti-tuberculosis treatment adherence and socio-demographic, economic, clinical, and drug-related objective and subjective factors in patients over 18 years of age. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 174 patient records of the tuberculosis control program and 15 semi-structured interviews to non-adherent patients during the period between June, 2012, and June, 2013. Results: The adherence in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was 94.8%. It was higher in patients in the social security contributory regime (p=0.035). Non-adherence was 5.2%. Drug intolerance was higher in the group of non-adherent patients. The lack of family support, absenteeism in the workplace, economic impact and dissatisfaction with the timeliness and the care of the health institution, were important in the decision of non-adherence. Conclusions: Affiliation to the health system regime and drug tolerance were objective factors related to adherence to treatment. The social and economic burden of disease is a subjective factor associated with the decision of not adhering to treatment.