Feedback
TB treatment often consists of an initial treatment cycle and, if no response is seen, it is necessary to reassess the regimen and treatment plan as well as to formulate a new plan of action. Suspension of drug therapy is recommended in cases where the medical personnel involved are confident that the patient has been adherent to the prescribed regimen, the patient is on the correct regimen with respect to drug sensitivities (e.g.
End-of-life care is palliative care for patients whose curative treatment options have been completely exhausted. When failure of all curative options is suspected, it is imperative that careful plans be made both:
These plans are crucial to maximize the patient’s comfort and quality of life, help prevent transmission, and protect public health.
After completing TB treatment, some people have to deal with the possibility of post-TB symptoms or sometimes respiratory disability or sequelae. TB recurrence may happen in a small proportion of patients including those successfully treated. Counselling at the end of TB treatment is necessary to provide people with necessary information on the possibilities of post-TB symptoms, disability or sequelae, or the recurrence of TB; they need to access health care services for follow-up examinations when necessary.
It can be very helpful if children are rewarded for implementing a desired behaviour (e.g. eating nutritious food or taking supplements) to reinforce those habits. The most effective reward is attention from the parents.
Treatment administration options that are effective and suitable should be considered for each patient at the start of the patient’s treatment. Treatment support (an updated adaptation of directly observed treatment) is defined as another person (either a health-care worker or a lay person) helping a patient with TB take his/her TB medications, providing emotional support and medically intervention (or recognizing when medical intervention is necessary) in the case of non-response to therapy or adverse effects from treatment.
On-site social support for patients, their families and friends through peer counselling can improve the effectiveness of TB programmes. TB programmes can develop support activities that identify patients who have been cured (“community champion” or “ex-patient”) and provide them with training to be a peer supporter. This worker engages in support, treatment literacy and communication with other patients under treatment. These community champions or ex-patients should follow each patient from diagnosis through to cure, and they should act as both friend and educator.
