THE EFFECT OF DOSAGE CARDS ON COMPLIANCE WITH DIRECTLY OBSERVED TUBERCULOSIS THERAPY IN-HOSPITAL

We evaluated the effect of a dosage card signed by both patient and he alth worker on compliance in a tuberculosis ward. Compliance was asses sed by testing a urine specimen from each patient for the presence of isoniazid and rifampicin pre-intervention and at two weeks, six weeks and 16 months post-intervention, Pre-intervention compliance was 62% a nd increased to 88%, 91% and 93% in the short, medium and long-term, r espectively (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, P < 0.01). The assumption that direct ly observed therapy is successfully practised in hospital is not alway s correct. Simple inexpensive measures can improve compliance and have an impact on tuberculosis control.