Tuberculosis – Treatment, Counseling and Motivation of The Patient

Though age old stigma with tuberculosis has educed but people still have misconceptions about the disease, its contagiousness and the way it can affect others.

Clear communication is the keystone of patient diagnosis and it begins with telling the correct diagnosis and counseling the patient and family.

It is preferable to counsel the family together to begin with, to educate them and to dispel myths and to gain their support towards regular compliance by the patient.

Counseling and motivation during each visit are the keys to successful completion of treatment.

Counseling and motivation

• Explain the salient features of the disease to the patient and his family members.
• Answer their queries with concern.
• It is a good idea to develop a one to one relationship with the patient and to know about his social and economic situation.

• Stress upon strict following of the regime and ask the other members of family to keep a record and enforce the regime.

• Cos of the treatment should be clearly explained if patient buys his own medicine.
• If patient cannot afford the treatemtn he sould be referred to  nearest goverment set up that povides anti TB drugs
• Patient should be told that  he will improve gradually and shall become asymptomatic at the end of 2-3 months, but should go on taking his medicines regularly in the prescribed doses for the prescribed period.

• Side effect should be explained and reported as soon as noted.

Tuberculois needs to be treated aggressively and patient needs to participate actively in the treatment.