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Treatment Adherence Strategies
As stated above, non-compliance to anti-tuberculin treatment can result in treatment failure or development of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Therefore, overall treatment strategies should be focused on promoting adherence. WHO and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend a multi-faceted patient centered care approach. Public health and private sector practitioners can promote TB treatment adherence by allowing patients to be active partners in making their own treatment decisions; improving patient’s knowledge and understanding of tuberculosis disease, treatment and potential spread; and by discussing expected interim and long-term outcomes with patients. CDC also recommends use of incentives and enablers. Incentives are monetary rewards for a healthy behavior (e.g.transport or food vouchers), while enablers function to remove economic burdens impeding healthcare access (e.g. grouping clinic visits, providing after hours clinic visits, or home visits). However, more research is needed to determine whether incentives and enablers have a significant effect on long term treatment adherence for TB”.

Individuals with tuberculosis may also benefit from the emotional support of peers and survivors. Advocacy organizations and patient support groups such as STOP TB, TB Alert, Treatment Action Group (TAG) and others work to connect TB survivors.