Ma. Antonette Calipjo
University of the Philippines, Philippines
Title: Roles and impact of nurses in promoting medication adherence of patients under the TB-DOTS program in district V, Manila
Biography
Biography: Ma. Antonette Calipjo
Abstract
Through the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), TB-DOTS reached and sustained 100% nationwide coverage, achieving the global target for detection of new cases. NTP Manual of Procedures (MOP) enlists functions of health workers in TB-DOTS. Purpose: To determine the actual roles and activities of nurses in promoting medication adherence of patients under the TB-DOTS Program in District V, Manila. Methods: The study employed a descriptive exploratory design to gather baseline data on the actual roles and activities of nurses in promoting medication adherence. Eleven TB nurses were profiled and surveyed using a questionnaire drafted from the 2005 NTP MOP, 29 former TB patients (cured) were interviewed and a cohort of 723 TB case records were tabulated to determine the cure rate, treatment completion rate, and relapse rate for District V Manila. Descriptive statistics, content analysis, and data triangulation were performed and further analyzed using Williams et.al’s Self-Determination Model of Medication Adherence (1998). A pool of experts on TB-DOTS and health policies were consulted. Results: The current treatment success rate of 73% (n=600) in District V Manila did not meet the target National Treatment Success Rate of 90%. The computed cure rate is 26.55% (n=192), relapse rate of 1.24% (n=9), treatment completion rate of 56.43%. Conclusion: The roles and activities of nurses related to patients’ adherence to TB medications were deemed essential towards better TB patient outcomes. The study recommends further training of nurses for them to improve in carrying out the TB treatment regimen to improve patient adherence.