Objective: To analyze the application effect of Adherence Rating Score (ARS) scale in the treatment of patients with tuberculosis.
Methods: A total of 1 349 patients with tuberculosis from November of 2013 to May of 2014 in ten counties of Guizhou province were selected. Before treatment, ARS scale was applied. According to data related to the literature on compliance during the follow-up visits in late May and June (the patients were reviewed in late August), correlation of the evaluation score with the actual compliance was analyzed.
Results: There were 705 cases with high but 249 cases with low compliance when the ARS score was ≥4, while 213 cases with high compliance and 182 cases with low compliance when the ARS score was <4 in late May. The compliance of cases with ≥4 ARS score was significantly different from those cases with <4 ARS score in May (χ(2)=51.265,P<0.05). 637 cases with high compliance and 317 cases with low compliance when the ARS score was ≥4, and 193 cases with high compliance and 202 cases with low compliance when the ARS score was <4 in June (August), were discovered. The compliance of cases with ≥4 ARS score was significantly different from those cases with <4 ARS score in June ( χ(2)=37.865,P<0.05). Data from the comprehensive analysis, based on May and June (August), showed that there were 543 cases with high compliance and 411 cases with low compliance when the ARS score was ≥4, and 144 cases with high compliance and 251 cases with low compliance when the ARS score was <4 in late May. The compliance of cases with ≥4 ARS score was significantly different from those cases with <4 ARS score (χ(2)=46.802,P<0.05). RESULTS from the regression analysis showed that all of the late May, June (August) and continuous treatment periods were the factors influencing the compliance of the patients (OR=2.448, 95%CI: 1.910-3.138;OR=2.139, 95%CI: 1.678-2.726;OR=2.371, 95% CI: 1.853-3.034).
Conclusion: The compliance based on score ARS scale and the actual investigation were significantly related and the compliance could be evaluated using the score ARS scale before the initiation of treatment and could be applied in Guizhou province.