[A social backing program and motivation provision in patients with tuberculosis]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Medicine
• Tuberculosis Research

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) treatment adherence is a global health challenge.
• Patient motivation significantly impacts treatment outcomes.
• Socioeconomic factors often impede successful TB recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate tuberculosis patients' needs, perceptions, and expectations regarding healthcare and social support.
• To identify barriers to treatment adherence and inform program improvements.
• To enhance patient motivation for recovery and treatment completion.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous voluntary questionnaires administered to new TB cases in four Russian Federation regions.
• Interviewed 1302 patients undergoing chemotherapy and 87 who had discontinued treatment.
• Utilized a standard questionnaire to gather data on patient experiences and preferences.

Main Results:

• Key reasons for treatment discontinuation included financial necessity (30%), alcohol abuse (30%), and poor health education (25%).
• Patients favored social support in the form of rewards (67%), with preferences for daily (23%) or final bonuses (21%).
• Outpatient treatment was preferred by the majority (67%).

Conclusions:

• Tuberculosis patients encounter significant challenges affecting treatment motivation.
• Additional funding and inter-agency collaboration are essential for effective social support.
• Integrating social organizations and addiction services can optimize social support for TB patients.