Impact of Education on Non-Compliance and MDR TB Risk: Specialized Hospital Study

Abstract

Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a significant global health threat, with treatment challenges linked to patient non-compliance. Education has been proposed as a potential strategy to improve adherence and reduce the risk of MDR-TB. This study aims to assess the impact of education on non-compliance and MDR-TB risk among patients receiving treatment at a specialized hospital. Objective: The primary objective of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to determine whether education provided to MDR-TB patients could reduce non-compliance rates and subsequently mitigate the risk of MDR-TB. Methods: The study included 50 MDR-TB patients who had received at least three months of treatment. Data were collected from the MDR-TB wards at the National Institute of Disease of the Chest and Hospital in Dhaka, spanning from October 2011 to March 2012. Patient education interventions focused on treatment adherence and MDR-TB prevention. Results: The study's findings demonstrate a substantial decrease in non-compliance rates Among MDR-TB patients, 64% had a history of non-compliance, with 72% being male and primarily having lower educational backgrounds. Conversely, 70% of drug-compliant patients had attained at least a secondary education level. Educational interventions led to a significant 20% reduction in non-compliance, from an initial 28% to a final 8%, emphasizing their potential to reduce MDR-TB risk. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the positive impact of education on reducing non-compliance among MDR-TB patients. A 20% reduction in non-compliance rates indicates that educational interventions can effectively contribute to decreasing the risk of MDR-TB. Future efforts should prioritize integrating education into MDR-TB treatment programs to enhance patient adherence and reduce the burden of MDR-TB.