Compliance with tuberculosis therapy.

The treatment experience in TB control can be a very rewarding time for both the patient and the provider. If the patient is made to feel that the provider cares for him as a person, a meaningful relationship can develop and can have a positive influence on the patient's behavior in taking medications and perhaps even in the direction of his life. Noncompliance with medications unfortunately has been a "given" in the TB control program. The successful program must be patient centered and include the following components: (1) fair and equal treatment of all patients, (2) patient involvement in the plan of care, (3) the most current patient treatment and services, including the availability of DOT for patients with TB infection and disease, and (4) rewards for patients and staff for positive behavior in the completion of treatment. Given current levels of staffing and other resources, some noncompliance will continue even in the best TB programs. Caring and knowledgeable staff members who support the patient-centered approach can make TB treatment a positive experience for both the patient and themselves.