Cost effectiveness of Tuberculosis Treatment from the Patients' Perspective

Abstract

Objective: I o compare the cost-effectiveness of two strategies for supervising the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) during the intensive phase of Tuberculosis treatment.

Methodology: 600 newly diagnosed previously untreated smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were randomly assigned to the study and control groups.

A trained lay supervisor supervised each study group patient at home while nurses supervised the control group patients at the clinic.

Results: At the end of the study, the control group incurred personal cost in transport fare 14 times higher, and lost income 6.5 times more, than the study group.

Conclusion: It is concluded that home-based lay worker supervised Directly Observed Treatment Short course is more cost effective from the patients' point of view.

DOTS needs to be re-focused out of the hospitals and clinics and made community based in view of the increasing TB caseload occasioned by HI V/AIDS.

Key Words: Cost effectiveness, Tuberculosis treatment, personal cost, patient's perspective

Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.16(3&4) 2004: 1-6