Study of the feasibility of involving male student volunteers in case holding in an urban tuberculosis programme

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 1997 Dec;1(6):573-5.

Abstract

This paper reports the feasibility of involving unpaid National Service Scheme (NSS) male student volunteers in a city-based tuberculosis (TB) programme in supplying drugs and retrieving non-complaint TB patients. Twenty-five students were selected after assessing their attitude and were trained on TB drug delivery, home visits and motivation of non-compliant patients. Twenty-three sputum positive patients identified in a medical camp were started on an 8-month short-course chemotherapy regimen. Students supplied the drugs on a weekly basis and defaulters were visited. The treatment completion rate was 83% and defaulter retrieval was 57%. All patients had sputum smear conversion by 2 months and one relapsed during the 24-month follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / administration & dosage
  • Community Health Workers*
  • Developing Countries
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Volunteers*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents