Compliance with tuberculosis treatment in Hualien aborigines
Wong, C.K.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 94(Suppl 1): S34-S38
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0929-6646 PMID: 7549588 Document Number: 442995
We studied the treatment outcome and compliance in 93 Hualien aborigines patients with pulmonary tuberculosis registered from November 1990 to December 1993. There were 60 men and 33 women with a mean age of 42 years (range, 14-91 Years). There was no difference in age distribution between men and women. Antituberculosis (anti-TB) chemotherapy consisted of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for 2 months followed by isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol for 4 months. Anti-TB treatment was completed by 68 (73.1%) patients within 9 months while the other 25 Patients (26.9%) failed to complete their medication. It was found that single patients (unmarried, divorced, widowed), those with a low tuberculosis recognition score, and alcohol consumers had a higher chance of non-compliance and hence lower chance of completing treatment. Other factors such as sex, age, race, education, occupation, family Apgar score, associated diseases, side effects of anti-TB drugs, complicity of taking drugs, and treatment in general hospital/clinic or in Public health TB clinic did not significantly contribute to treatment failure.