PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Armen Hayrapetyan
AU  - Hayk Davtyan
AU  - Karapet Davtyan
AU  - Vahe Khachadourian
TI  - Home based tuberculosis (TB) care program
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2664
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2664.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2664.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - IntroductionHigh TB treatment success rate is essential to a successful TB program. One of the reasons for poor TB treatment is the inability of some TB patients to visit TB outpatient centers to take their medications. A pilot program was implemented in Armenia to provide home based TB treatment to patients who were unable to visit TB outpatient centers to receive their routine treatment. The pilot program aimed at improving TB treatment adherence and the treatment success rate among TB patients in Armenia.MethodsThe program waslaunched in 2013 involving TB patients according to specific eligibility criteria. The inclusion of the patients was based on the decision of responsible physician and the corresponding TB specialist working at the National TB Program (NTP). The treatment course was also controlled and monitored through weekly report forms.ResultsOut of 57 TB patients included in the program, 12 (21%) were included involved for only a part of their treatment course (temporary) while 45 (79%) for their entire treatment course (full treatment).Among the 23 patients who completed the full home based treatment 21 (91%) have had successful treatment outcome, and 2 (9%) died due to non TB reasons. After improvement in health condition of TB patient in temporary TB home based program, their TB management and treatment were transferred to TB outpatient centers.ConclusionsSuch high rate of treatment success among patients with serious morbidity is an evidence for effectiveness of home based TB care program. The program contributed to a higher adherence to treatment and consequently a better TB treatment outcome. Evaluation of the project suggested scaling up the program to cover all eligible TB patients in Armenia.