Reasons why patients with tuberculosis in South Korea stop anti-TB treatment: a cross-sectional study
METHOD: A multicentre, cross-sectional study based on in-depth interviews with patients and their families by TB specialist nurses was conducted. Patients who were reported with a final outcome of LTFU in 2015–2017 at all PPM hospitals across the country were enrolled. Enrolled patients were classified into six subgroups by age and three major reasons for LTFU (adverse effects, refusal of treatment, marginalisation) and their clinical features were compared.
RESULTS: Among 780 patients, those who were lost to follow-up due to adverse effects accounted for the largest proportion (n = 387). LTFU in those aged <65 years who refused treatment (n = 189) and those aged <65 years who were marginalised (n = 108) were related to having smear-positive TB and a previous history of unfavourable outcomes.
CONCLUSION: To reduce LTFU in South Korea, comprehensive strategies, including management of adverse effects, systematic counselling and education, should be implemented.
Keywords: Republic of Korea; TB; medication adherence; public-private sector partnerships
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St Mary´s Hospital 2: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St Mary´s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 3: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang 4: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 5: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 6: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul 7: Division of TB Epidemic Investigation, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 8: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
Publication date: 01 October 2020
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