Health-care Practices of Patients Registered at Selected Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course Centers in U.T. Chandigarh: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Aim: The study was carried out to explore the health-care practices of patients registered at selected directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) centers in U.T. Chandigarh.

Materials and Methods: An exploratory study was conducted on 58 patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis registered at three selected DOTS centers in U.T. Chandigarh. Information related to socio-demographic profile and health-care practices was gathered using an interview schedule and observation checklist. The data were analyzed with the help of SPSS.

Results: All the patients were aware of covering their mouth while coughing, talking, and sneezing but only 72.4% were practicing it. Less than two-third of patients (72.4%) was disposing their sputum directly in flush. None of the patients used a disinfectant for the disposal of sputum, 80% of the patients received dietary information from health-care staff. Most of the subjects (98.3%) were adherent to the DOTS treatment regimen and knew that DOTS is beneficial. The patients were receiving information regarding treatment compliance and diet from the health-care staff.

Conclusion: The study concluded that maximum patients were practicing cough hygiene but in some aspects such as sputum disposal and dietary habits, knowledge of the patients should be improved for better health-care practices.