Background-- New terms-- Goals of TB prevention and control -- Identifying TB cases -- Case management -- Working effectively with TB patients -- Developing a treatment and monitoring plan -- Adherence to treatment -- Providing directly observed therapy (DOT) -- Addressing barriers to adherence -- Legal remedies to nonadherence -- Quality assurance in case management -- Other TB control practices to complete -- Inter-jurisdictional and international referrals -- Considerations for TB case management in special settings-- Additional resources-- Answers to study questions-- Case study answers.

The Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis are a series of educational modules designed to provide information about TB in a self-study format. The series consists of a total of nine modules that are separated into two courses. The first course, Modules 1-5, provides basic information on TB. The second course, Modules 6-9, provides more specific TB programmatic information.

In this module, you will learn about managing TB patients and improving adherence to TB treatment. Patients with TB disease must follow their recommended course of treatment and complete treatment in a timely manner in order to cure TB and prevent drug resistance. Ensuring patient adherence to treatment can be difficult because TB disease treatment requires many drugs given for at least 6 months. It is important that health care workers help patients adhere to treatment, because nonadherence can have serious consequences.

This module describes case management activities and methods health care workers can use to improve patient adherence. Case management is a strategy to provide patient-centered care and ensure all public health activities related to TB care are completed. This module also describes several methods for promoting adherence, including directly observed therapy (DOT), the use of incentives and enablers, education, and legal remedies.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection