Gokce Celik Kara; Bektas Murat Yalcin
Corresponding Author: Bektas Murat Yalcin; Ondokuz Mayıs University - Department of Family Medicine.
Contact Email: myalcin@omu.edu.tr
Section: Original Research
Publication Date: TBD
AIM: to investigate the effect of video directly observed therapy (VDOT) on stigma levels in tuberculosis (TB) patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty TB patients (36.5%) receiving directly observed therapy (DOT) and 52 receiving VDOT (63.4%) between 15.08.2021 and 15.10.2021 in Samsun, Turkey, were included in this study (n=82). All the participants completed the Stigma Scale in Patients with Tuberculosis (SSTB), and their demographic and disease characteristics were investigated.
RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 50.0±17.8 years, 64 were married (78.8%), and 38 were women (46.3%) in the study group. Sixty patients had pulmonary TB (73.1%), and duration of disease was less than six months in 64 (82.9) patients. The mean SSTB score was 84.2±12.3, the DOT group exhibiting higher SSTB scores then the VDOT group (t=2.524, p=.006). The VDOT group had lower mean SSTB sub-dimension mean scores (perceived stigma, self-perception internalized stigma, and family/friend relations) (p<0.05). Linear regression models identified VDOT and male gender as independent factors for increased total SSTB scores (p<0.05). VDOT was also identified as an independent factor for total SSTB sub-dimension scores in the linear regression models (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that TB patients who receive VDOT has less stigmata compared to homecare DOT.