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Structured behavioral intervention to increase children's adherence to treatment for latent tuberculosis infection

A D Cass1, G A Talavera, L S Gresham

  • 1Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 3851 Rosecrans St, Mailstop P511D, San Diego, CA 92110, USA. acass1@san.rr.com

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|April 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The Treasure Chest program significantly improved therapy completion for children with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This behavioral intervention made children 2.4 times more likely to finish their treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) requires adherence to therapy for effective treatment.
  • Pediatric adherence to LTBI therapy can be challenging, necessitating innovative interventions.
  • Behavioral modification techniques offer potential solutions for improving treatment adherence in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of the Treasure Chest behavioral intervention in enhancing pediatric adherence to LTBI therapy.
  • To determine if self-monitoring and positive reinforcement can improve treatment completion rates in children with LTBI.
  • To evaluate the impact of the Treasure Chest program on therapy adherence within a public health setting.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study design was employed, comparing two groups of children treated at the San Diego County TB Control Program (SDCTBCP).
  • The intervention group (n=741) participated in the Treasure Chest program, utilizing self-monitoring and positive reinforcement.
  • The control group (n=841) received standard care prior to the implementation of the Treasure Chest program.

Main Results:

  • Children in the Treasure Chest program were 2.4 times more likely to complete their LTBI therapy compared to the historical control group.
  • Logistic regression analysis confirmed the significant positive impact of the intervention on treatment adherence.
  • The behavioral intervention demonstrated a measurable improvement in therapy completion rates for pediatric LTBI patients.

Conclusions:

  • The Treasure Chest intervention is a successful strategy for increasing adherence to LTBI therapy in children.
  • Behavioral interventions incorporating self-monitoring and positive reinforcement are effective in pediatric public health.
  • The findings support the wider implementation of the Treasure Chest program to improve tuberculosis control efforts in children.
Abstract

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