THE IMPACT OF INTENSIFIED SUPERVISORY ACTIVITIES ON TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT

A Health Subcentre-based randomized controlled trial was conducted in order to determine the importance of the motivation of the tuberculosi s personnel in improving the results of a treatment programme. A total of 1300 newly detected tuberculosis patients from 7 Health Centres we re divided into study and control groups using the Health Subcentre ar eas as sampling units. In the study group, worker motivation was inten sified through special regular sessions and closer supervision, while in the control group the usual procedures were followed. Treatment per formance was remarkably improved in the study areas: treatment complet ion rate was 78.8% in the study group, compared with 65.2% in the cont rol group. Bacteriological conversions among those having completed th e treatment were 91.9% and 62.2% respectively, and overall efficacy wa s 75.2% and 45.8%, respectively. In addition to improved treatment, th e follow-up case examinations also showed markedly increased performan ce. Although this study was done in facilities using conventional regi mens which have been replaced with short-course regimens more recently , the study results still clearly indicate the importance of motivatin g personnel in the field to attain better case management.