Publication

Abstract : Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem worldwide. Noncompliance to tuberculosis treatment is the common, most important cause of failure of initial therapy. The aim of the study was to assess the noncompliance and its contributing factors among tuberculosis patients attending pulmonary outpatient department and isolation rooms of a selected hospital at Kochi. Descriptive research design was used for the study. Sampling was done using non probability convenient sampling method. Data was collected from 50 tuberculosis patients who had noncompliance using structured checklist and the association was assessed using chi-square test. The result showed that the major factors contributing to noncompliance were inadequate confidence level of patients about completion of treatment, getting irritable with the taste of the medication, discontinuing the treatment once the symptoms are resolved, and waiting for a long time to see the doctor. The factors related to noncompliance have shown association with certain demographic variables at p<0.05 such as age, job, marital status, and income.