Comparison of In-Person vs. Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) on Stigma Levels in Tuberculosis Patients.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of video directly observed therapy (VDOT) on stigma levels in tuberculosis (TB) patients. 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. 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 6 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 = <i>.006</i>). The VDOT group had lower mean SSTB subdimension mean scores (perceived stigma, self-perception internalized stigma, and family/friend relations) (P < <i>.05</i>). Linear regression models identified VDOT and male gender as independent factors for increased total SSTB scores (P < <i>.05</i>). VDOT was also identified as an independent factor for total SSTB subdimension scores in the linear regression models (P < <i>.05</i>). Our results confirm that TB patients who receive VDOT has less stigmata compared with homecare DOT.