The advantages and challenges in the implementation of the video-observed anti-tuberculosis treatment

Abstract

Objectives. The national policy allows tuberculosis patients to benefit from 3 types of treatment options: 1. community directly observed treated when the treatment is delivered close to the patient’s home, which is most extended. 2. directly observed treatment administrated in hospitals. 3. video-observed treatment. The purpose of the study was to assess the peculiarities of patients treated with video-observed compared with directly observed and the treatment effectiveness. Material and methods. A prospective, case-control study, conducted in the 2020 year, which included 276 patients, from which 78 were treated remotely and included in the video-observed group and 198 cases were monitored by a trained health care worker when the patient swallow every dose, and included in the directly observed group. Results. The remote treatment can be provided if the patient has an electronic device, wideband internet, have no contraindications, as deep social vulnerability, and mental impairment as a consequence of psychic diseases, alcohol abuse, and drug use. The complexity of the patient’s risk factors endangers the treatment outcome, which did not differ significantly compared with patients treated with directly-observed treatment. Conclusions. Video-observed treatment can be implemented at the national level in the actual epidemiological conditions of the Republic of Moldova if supporting measures for patients will be performed.