Clinical and Humanistic Outcomes of Tuberculosis Treatment in a Nigerian Directly Observed Treatment Short Course Centre

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major global health problem. It causes ill-health among millions of people each year and ranks alongside the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a leading cause of death worldwide. The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical and humanistic outcomes of tuberculosis treatment at the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) centre in Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Methods: Data for clinical outcomes was collected retrospectively at the directly observed treatment shortcouse centre of Jos University Teaching Hospital from a cross-section of patients’ folders who had been treated for tuberculosis at the study site for at least 12months as at 1st April to 30th September 2018 while a validated questionnaire was administered prospectively to a census population of tuberculosis patients still undergoing treatment between 1st October 2018 and 31st March 2019 to determine the humanistic outcomes. A descriptive data analysis was done using SPSS version 23 and proportions were tested using chi squared statistics with significance level set at P<0.05.

Results: The study revealed that tuberculosis treatment success in the centre was 76.33% which falls short of WHO standard of minimum of 85%. Patients taking tuberculosis treatment in the centre are satisfied with the services rendered to them and the improvement in their health conditions. Unfriendly attitude of some health care providers in the facility is an area for intervention.

Conclusion: Clinical and humanistic outcomes of tuberculosis treatment was found to be satisfactory in the facility owing to the level of treatment success and patient reported satisfaction with facility services and improvement in their health conditions.