Objective: To identify the obstacles, as seen by the patient, to adequately carrying through anti-Tuberculosis treatment.
Design: Crossover study. SITE. At Community level, in the city of Barcelona.
Measurements and main results: Each patient was responsible for filling in a survey at home. It was considered that a patient did not adequately carry out the treatment if he/she failed to take the medication for a period longer than three consecutive days. We discounted 66 exitus or losses and were left with 308 surveys. Out of these, the failure rate was 13.5%. The only variable statistically linked to failure was Dangerous Drug Addiction (DDA) (OR = 6.1; CI:2.3-15.8). The most common cause of failure was forgetfulness, followed by deliberate abandonment. The greatest problems in obtaining prescriptions were the opening hours or location of the dispensary. In spite of the seriousness of the illness, patients do not illness, patients do not usually give up their toxic habits. 68.8% were followed up in hospitals and only 8.8% in Primary Care Centres.
Conclusions: Failure is linked to forgetfulness and deliberate abandonment. Patients have problems in obtaining prescriptions because of the opening hours and location of the prescriptions dispensary. Corrective measures should be taken for these latter problems.