Barriers, Enablers and challenges in the practice of directly observed treatment for tuberculosis patients in a local Thai community

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) has presented a challenge to the public health community in Thailand, especially as regards patient adherence to TB treatment. Direct observed treatment (DOT) is recommended for promoting patient adherence to TB treatment. There is good evidence that DOT can significantly increase the patient adherence to TB treatment. However, the implementation of DOT has complex relationships to socioeconomic factors and Thai context issues. The overall aim was (1) to obtain a deeper understanding of what happens when the DOT is practised in a local Thai community, and (2) to generate knowledge for improving the implementation of DOT, and thereby improve patient adherence to TB treatment.The empirical data were collected in Trang province, in the southern region of Thailand, between 2013 and 2015. The sample of study I consisted of five District TB Coordinators and five TB clinic staff from the public health sectors in rural and urban areas. Phenomenographic analysis was used. Study II: Five focus group discussions were conducted with 25 village health volunteers and six family members; manifest and latent content analysis was used for the analysis. Study III: Twenty TB patients were interviewed, using grounded theory methodology. Study IV: A mixed-method systematic review was accessed through databases. Data from the selected studies were extracted and synthesized using thematic analysis. The fear of stigma of TB patients was considered a significant barrier to the practice of DOT and adherence to TB treatment (studies I, II and III). Lack of TB knowledge and skills among DOT observers were revealed as barriers to the practice of DOT (studies I and II). At the same time, social facilitation and TB patients’ positive thinking and self-awareness were considered enablers of patient adherence to TB treatment (studies I and III). Another result is to provide an empowerment approach for DOT observers, who, in turn, will increase the empowerment of TB patients to achieve adherence to TB treatment  (study IV).This thesis contributes a deeper understanding of the perspective of healthcare providers, DOT observers and TB patients when DOT is practised in a local Thai community. A challenge from these results is to provide an empowerment approach towards DOT observers. The results of this thesis will be useful for policy-makers who will consider strategies for improving the implementation of DOT and enabling patient adherence to TB treatment in the Thai context.