Patient support during treatment for active tuberculosis and for latent tuberculosis infection: Policies and practices in European low-incidence countries.

AIM

To provide an overview of the policies and practices of patient support during treatment for active tuberculosis and for latent tuberculosis infection in European countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis and to identify potential best practices.

BACKGROUND

Policies, practices and its' evaluations from similar settings may aid in the development of evidence-based patient support guidelines.

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

METHODS

In June 2016, a survey was conducted among the 24 European low tuberculosis incidence countries (<20 patients per 100,000 population).

RESULTS

Nineteen of the 24 countries approached responded. Most countries (18/19) gave some form of tuberculosis patient support including various treatment supervision options and treatment adherence interventions such as health education, psycho-emotional and socio-economic support. Patient support for persons on treatment for latent tuberculosis infection was less widely (9/19) implemented. Patient support guidelines were available in 13 countries, but none of the interventions included had been quantitatively evaluated for their effects on treatment adherence. Potential best practices included appointing a tuberculosis coordinator in charge of organizing patient support; putting a treatment plan meeting with patients, providers and stakeholders in place; supplying direct enablers for marginalized patients; organizing cultural-sensitive community support; and dispensing pill cases. A lack of resources impeded the provision of patient support, especially for home-based treatment supervision.

CONCLUSION

We summarized policies and practices of tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection patient support in low tuberculosis incidence European countries. Given the lack of quantitative evaluations, more research is needed to verify the effectiveness of identified potential best practices.