Household members and health care workers as supervisors of tuberculosis treatment

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 339 - 343
• Main Authors: Maciel, ELN, Guidoni, L M, Brioshi, A P, do prado, TN, Fregona, G, Hadad, D J, Molino, L P, Palaci, M, Johnson, J L, Dietze, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus; Mycobacterium
• ISSN: 0034-8910

OBJECTIVE: To compare tuberculosis cure rates among patients supervised by household members or health care workers. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 171 patients treated by the program in Vitoria, Southeastern Brazil, from 2004 to 2007. Each patient was followed-up for six months until the end of the treatment. Of the patients studied, a household member supervised 59 patients and healthcare workers supervised 112 patients. Patients' sociodemographic and clinic data were analyzed. Differences between groups were assessed using chi-square test or Student's t-test. Significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: Most patients had smear positive, culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Two patients were HIV-positive. There were more illiterate patients in the healthcare-supervised group, in comparison to those supervised by their families (p=0.01). All patients supervised by a household member were cured compared to 90% of the patients supervised by health care workers (p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Successful tuberculosis treatment was more frequent when supervised by household members.Original Abstract: OBJETIVO: Comparer os resultados de cura por tuberculose entre pacientes supervisionados pelo membro familiar e pelo profissional de saude. METODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectiva de 171 pacientes de Vitoria, ES, no periodo de 2004 a 2007. Cada paciente foi acompanhado por seis meses ate a finalizacao do tratamento. Dos pacientes estudados, 59 pacientes tratados eram supervisionados por um membro familiar e 112 pelos profissionais de saude. Foram avaliados dados sociodemograficos e clinicos dos pacientes. Diferencas entre os grupos de estudo foram avaliadas utilizando o teste qui-quadrado ou teste t de Student ao nivel de significancia de 5%. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos sujeitos do estudo apresentaram bacioscopia positiva e cultura confirmada para tuberculose. Dois pacientes tinham sorologia positiva para HIV. Um numero maior de pacientes no grupo supervisionado por profissionais de saude nao eram alfabetizados, comparado com aqueles pacientes do grupo supervisionado por membros familiares (p = 0,01). Todos os pacientes supervisionados por um familiar foram curados, frente a 90% dos pacientes supervisionados pelos profissionais de saude (p=0,024). CONCLUSOES: O sucesso do tratamento de tuberculose foi maior quando supervisionado por um familiar.