Adherence to Treatment
5.1
Introduction
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A physician who treats TB patients must monitor, promote and ensure adherence to treatment. Successful treatment of a TB patient benefits both the patient and the community. A physician must not only prescribe an appropriate regimen but also assess the adherence of the patient to the regimen and address problems with adherence if and when it occurs. Studies have shown that health care providers cannot reliably identify which patients will adhere to treatment and which will not before it begins. One of the best indicators of patient adherence is if patients have been lost to follow up in the past as they are more likely to do so again. These patients may need special attention. |
