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Updated: Sep 5, 2025

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
Published on: August 16, 2021
Patients' perceptions and experiences of directly observed therapy for TB
David Thomas1, Rachael H Summers2
1TB Consultant Nurse, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth.
Aim:
To understand patients' perceptions and experiences of directly observed therapy (DOT) for tuberculosis treatment in the UK.
Method:
Patients receiving DOT as part of their TB treatment participated in semi-structured and audio-recorded interviews. Data were analysed using a framework approach.
Results:
Non-adherence was driven by socio-cultural, mental health, employment and discrimination factors. Patients valued DOT for its support and social connection but those in employment feared it could lead to disclosure and social discredit.
Conclusion:
TB patients experience social isolation and fear discrimination. DOT offers a degree of social connection and support for marginalised patients but fails to tackle fundamental barriers to adherence such as mental health issues, addictions, housing and discrimination. Practice implications: Flexible patient-centred methods of DOT should be offered throughout patients' treatment. Research into multi-agency responsibility for promoting adherence needs to be commissioned, implemented and evaluated. Telemedicine and nurse-led clinics may improve access to care and improve patient experience.
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