Related Factors of Treatment Success of Patients with Tuberculosis Managed in Public Health Centers

Hwang, Eun Jeong; Na, Baeg Ju

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This retrospective study is to identify related factors of treatment success of patients with tuberculosis at community health centers.
METHODS
The subjects of this study were 1,417 patients with tuberculosis treated in 28 community health centers. The predictors of tuberculosis treatment success were analyzed in terms of 2 areas, which were characteristics of patients and health centers(TB control program). The characteristics of patients consist of 2 factors, such as demographic & diagnosis and treatment. The present conditions of health centers consist of 3 factors, location of centers, resources, and community activities. Data were analysed using chi-square-test and logistic regression methods.
RESULTS
The significant differences between success group and failure group were sex(p=0.003), age(p=0.013), job(p=0.000), type of patients(p=0.001), past history(p=0.029), BCG injection(p=0.009), sputum culture examination(p=0.017), period of treatment(p=0.000), location of center(p=0.001), population per staff(p=0.015), FTE(p=0.027), education days of staff(p=0.005), BCG injection rate(p=0.001), case detection rate (p=0.003), and health education provision rate(p=0.044). Then these variables were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Significant positive factors of treatment success were occupation(95% CI:1.3-6.1), periods of treatment(95% CI:1.5-2.2), center in large city(95% CI:1.2-16.7), center in middle city(95% CI:2.1-24.3), job education related TB(95% CI:1.02-1.3), and BCG injection rate(95% CI:1.1-303.4). Significant negative factors of treatment success were male(95% CI:0.1-0.5) and treatment after default(95% CI:0.005-0.5).
CONCLUSIONS
Tuberculosis is still one of serious diseases in Korea, because it causes highest mortality rate among OECD countries. This study may provide information to improve treatment effectiveness of tuberculosis at community health centers.