Research Article: Adolescent, caregiver and provider perspectives on tuberculosis treatment adherence: a qualitative study from Lima, Peru
Abstract:
Objectives To understand the perspectives of adolescents (10–19 years old), their caregivers and healthcare providers regarding factors that impact adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment among adolescents. Design We conducted in-depth interviews using semistructured interview guides based on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Five Dimensions of Adherence framework, which conceptualises adherence as being related to the health system, socioeconomic factors, patient, treatment and condition. We applied framework thematic analysis. Setting Between August 2018 and May 2019, at 32 public health centres operated by the Ministry of Health in Lima, Peru. Participants We interviewed 34 adolescents who completed or were lost to follow-up from treatment for drug-susceptible pulmonary TB disease in the preceding 12 months; their primary caregiver during treatment; and 15 nurses or nurse technicians who had ?6 months’ experience supervising TB treatment. Results Participants reported numerous treatment barriers, the most common of which were the inconvenience of health facility-based directly observed therapy (DOT), long treatment duration, adverse treatment events and symptom resolution. The support of adult caregivers was critical for helping adolescents overcome these barriers and carry out the behavioural skills (eg, coping with the large pill burden, managing adverse treatment events and incorporating treatment into daily routines) needed to adhere to treatment. Conclusion Our findings support a three-pronged approach to improve TB treatment adherence among adolescents: (1) reduce barriers to adherence (eg, home-based or community-based DOT in lieu of facility-based DOT, reducing pill burden and treatment duration when appropriate), (2) teach adolescents the behavioural skills required for treatment adherence and (3) strengthen caregivers’ ability to support adolescents.
Introduction:
An estimated 800?000 adolescents, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as persons between the ages of 10 and 19 years, become ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year. 1 Adolescents are at risk of suboptimal TB treatment adherence, comprising both missed doses and loss to follow-up. 2–4 An individual patient-data meta-analysis of clinical trials found that missing >10% of prescribed doses of first-line TB therapy—which consists of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol—is associated with a…
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