Treatment under DOTS

Present study was prospectively carried out at the 3 DOTS cum Microscopy Centres, associated with LRS Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease. A pre-tested and pre-designed questionnaire was developed to study the objectives and the patients were interviewed with the questionnaire at beginning of treatment. Among the 311 patients who were included in the study, 158 patients consisted of different type of delay. In the study maximum delay was patient delay (43.08%) i.e. in DOTS maximum delay is due to patients reporting to the clinic after onset of symptoms. Diagnosis delay was found in only 7.34% cases, indicating that the diagnosis in DOTS is efficient. Treatment delay consisted of 22.5% among study among study population i.e. late initiation of treatment under DOTS is a major issue on which the system have to concentrate.