Tuberc Respir Dis.  1990 Dec;37(4):399-406. 10.4046/trd.1990.37.4.399.

An Analysis of Tuberculosis Patient Management in Private Sector

• KMID: 2528470
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1990.37.4.399

Abstract

With 1119 sputum positives registered from July 1 through October 31, 1987 and treated on an ambulatory basis at 28 medical institutions (16 university hospitals, 4 national/public/ private hospitals, 4 private TB clinics and 4 chest clinics of the Korean National Tuberculosis Association), a study was conducted to evaluate the patient management performed in the private health sector other than the health centres in the public sector. The results were as follows: 1) Out of 1119 sputum positives, 664 patients (59.3%) were put on initial treatment regimens and the remaining 455 patients (40 .7%) on retreatment regimens. Among the former group of patients, 39.6% ware treated with treated caurse chemotheerapy and 19.7% with long-term chemotherapy. 2) The premature interruption rate was 42 . 1 %. Out of this figure, the drop-out rate occupied 33.6% and 80% of them took place in the first half of treatment period. 3) The rate of regular drug collection was 69 .2%, whi1e that of irregular drug collection was 30.8%. 4) The negative conversion rate, that is, treatment efficacy was 74.6% and the treatment efficiency was 43. 2%. The following are proposed on the basis of analysis of the above results. 1) A national policy should be urgently made to improve the patient management in an effective way by examining the strengths and weaknesses of private and public health sectors and by complementing each other. 2) For this purpose, a committee comprising governmental authorities and concerned expeπsin 바e field of tuberculosis control, clinical medicine, public health and medical insurance should be organized and take the necessary measures.