Monitoring the regularity of self administration of dapsone by leprosy patients

An operational study was undertaken (1) to monitor and assess the regularity of DDS intake by leprosy patients, (2) to find out the operational feasibility of methods used for monitoring dapsone intake, and (3) to study the factors influencing the regularity of drug intake. The self administration of Dapsone by 319 leprosy patients, attending 6 field clinics of our Mobile Treatment Unit was assessed by (1) Physical verification of Dapsone tablets and (2) screening their urine for DDS by spot test (in the field itself) and by estimating DDS/Cr. ratio in urine (in Biochemistry Lab.). As assessed by physical verification of Dapsone tablets, on an average one patient has missed 3.67 +/- 3.96 tablets in a fortnight, and only 62% patient took more than 75% of treatment. The spot test was found to be positive in 84.64% of the patients. Both the methods of monitoring the regularity of dapsone intake were found operationally very feasible and acceptable and had a good correlation with each other. The spot test was found very reliable as judged by DDS/Cr. ratio. Both the methods can be used on a mass scale in National Leprosy Control Programme for the purpose.